Veteran engine is back on track

A restored steam locomotive that last ran on the British mainline 40 years ago is back on the rails.

Enthusiasts attended a special ceremony marking the return of the locomotive at the Great Central Railway in Leicestershire at the weekend.

The Oliver Cromwell hauled its last train on 11 August 1968.

Robert Crew of Great Central Railway said: "To restore this locomotive to working order after 40 years is a amazing event - we are very proud."

It has taken four years to restore the Britannia class Pacific No 70013.

It originally ran on the Norwich to London line and went to the museum after it was taken out of service in 1968.

The parts for the restoration are estimated to have cost £70,000 and volunteers took on all the repair work.

The project is a collaboration between York-based National Railway Museum, the Great Central Railway, Steam Railway Magazine, Bressingham Steam Museum and 5305 Locomotive Association and Loughborough Standard Locomotives Group.

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