SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                   -------------------------------------------


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                                 Date of Report
                       (Date of earliest event reported):

                               September 29, 1998

                    ----------------------------------------


                             THERMOQUEST CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware                        1-14262                           77-0407461
(State or other                (Commission                    (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of               File Number)               Identification Number) 
incorporation or
organization)



2215 Grand Avenue Parkway
Austin, Texas                                                     78728-3812
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)


                                 (512) 251-1400
                         (Registrant's telephone number
                              including area code)


<PAGE>


      This Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of
risks and  uncertainties.  Important  factors that could cause actual results to
differ  materially from those indicated by such  forward-looking  statements are
set forth  under the  heading  "Forward-looking  Statements"  in  Exhibit  13 to
ThermoQuest  Corporation's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January
3, 1998.  These include risks and  uncertainties  relating to:  competition  and
technological change, intellectual property rights and litigation, dependence on
certain  key  industries,  the  possible  effects  of  changes  in  regulations,
ThermoQuest  Corporation's acquisition strategy,  international operations,  and
the potential impact of the year 2000 on processing date-sensitive information.

Item 5.     Other Events

      On September 29, 1998,  ThermoQuest  Corporation  ("ThermoQuest") issued a
press release announcing that it will incur approximately $4.2 million in pretax
restructuring  and other charges in the third  quarter,  ending October 3, 1998.
ThermoQuest  will  incur   approximately  $3.5  million  in  severance  expenses
resulting   from  an  approximate   two  percent   reduction  of  its  workforce
(approximately  50  employees).  In  addition,  ThermoQuest  will  record a $0.7
million charge relating to the closure of a facility.  These charges will reduce
ThermoQuest's  third  quarter 1998 diluted  earnings per share by  approximately
$.05.  ThermoQuest  estimates  that these actions will result in 1999  operating
savings of approximately $3 million.

Item 7.     Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

      (a)    Financial Statements of Business Acquired: not
            applicable.

      (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information: not applicable.

      (c)   Exhibits: not applicable.



<PAGE>




                                    SIGNATURE



      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on this 29th day of September, 1998.



                                          THERMOQUEST CORPORATION


                                          By:   /s/ Kenneth J. Apicerno
                                                Kenneth J. Apicerno
                                                Treasurer
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                   -------------------------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                 Date of Report
                       (Date of earliest event reported):

                               September 29, 1998

                    ----------------------------------------

                             THERMOQUEST CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware                        1-14262                           77-0407461
(State or other                (Commission                    (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of               File Number)               Identification Number) 
incorporation or
organization)

2215 Grand Avenue Parkway
Austin, Texas                                                     78728-3812
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)

                                 (512) 251-1400
                         (Registrant's telephone number
                              including area code)
This Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of
risks and  uncertainties.  Important  factors that could cause actual results to
differ  materially from those indicated by such  forward-looking  statements are
set forth  under the  heading  "Forward-looking  Statements"  in  Exhibit  13 to
ThermoQuest  Corporation's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January
3, 1998.  These include risks and  uncertainties  relating to:  competition  and
technological change, intellectual property rights and litigation, dependence on
certain  key  industries,  the  possible  effects  of  changes  in  regulations,
ThermoQuest  Corporation's acquisition strategy,  international operations,  and
the potential impact of the year 2000 on processing date-sensitive information.

Item 5.     Other Events

      On September 29, 1998,  ThermoQuest  Corporation  ("ThermoQuest") issued a
press release announcing that it will incur approximately $4.2 million in pretax
restructuring  and other charges in the third  quarter,  ending October 3, 1998.
ThermoQuest  will  incur   approximately  $3.5  million  in  severance  expenses
resulting   from  an  approximate   two  percent   reduction  of  its  workforce
(approximately  50  employees).  In  addition,  ThermoQuest  will  record a $0.7
million charge relating to the closure of a facility.  These charges will reduce
ThermoQuest's  third  quarter 1998 diluted  earnings per share by  approximately
$.05.  ThermoQuest  estimates  that these actions will result in 1999  operating
savings of approximately $3 million.

Item 7.     Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

      (a)    Financial Statements of Business Acquired: not
            applicable.

      (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information: not applicable.

      (c)   Exhibits: not applicable.
SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on this 29th day of September, 1998.

                                          THERMOQUEST CORPORATION

                                          By:   /s/ Kenneth J. Apicerno
                                                Kenneth J. Apicerno
                                                Treasurer