STEAM enthusiasts can take advantage of a rare opportunity to get a closer look at a piece – quite literally – of the region's rail heritage.

Tornado, which became Britain's first steam engine for decades when it was assembled at Darlington Locomotive Works, has returned to the shed where it was manufactured – albeit missing a vital component.

On Tuesday (October 28) morning, the boiler of engine number 60163 was lifted from its frames and sent to Germany over an overhaul.

The rest of Tornado was driven from Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, to Darlington, where it too will undergo maintenance.

It is the first time Tornado – a Peppercorn class A1 locomotive – has returned to the works, in Hopetown Lane, since it was completed in 2008.

During its stint in Darlington, Tornado will sit side-by-side with the frames for Gresley class P2 engine Prince of Wales.

The second engine, number 2007, is being built by the team that built Tornado and will be Britain's most powerful steam locomotive when it is completed in 2021.

Tornado's boiler will be returned from Germany in February and the overhaul will be completed in May, when the engine will re-enter mainline service in its original apple green livery.

Mark Allatt, chairman of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, said Tornado's absence from the rails will mark the first time a Peppercorn class A1 and Gresley class P2 have sat side-by-side, as the last P2 was rebuilt in 1944, four years before the first A1 was completed.

Mr Allatt said: "Tornado has been through Darlington quite a few times – the first train we ran down to London passed through.

"Since then, it has been back up quite a few times and we even pulled the Royal train right past the works in 2012, on the way to Bishop Auckland."

During its hiatus in Darlington, the engine will be available for members of the public and enthusiasts to inspect on the third Saturday of every month.

Tornado was built over an 18-year period with a £3m budget.

Prince of Wales will cost an estimated £5m to complete.

For more information, visit a1steam.com or p2steam.com