Blackburn was “transported to the golden age of steam” yesterday, June 11, as a “magnificent” train arrived at the station.
The Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive was greeted by crowds of trainspotters at Blackburn Station at around 9 am.
Sharing the images in the Lancashire Telegraph Camera Club, Julie Anne Walton said the train proudly blew its whistle when arriving in the town.
She said: “Blackburn transported to the golden age of steam as the magnificent Nigel Gresley loco arrives proudly blowing her whistle - all aboard, mind the gap!”
Built in 1937, the LNER Class A4 holds the post-war speed record for steam trains on British railways, when it reached 126mph in 1938, before its withdrawal from service in 1966.
Leaving Crewe at 6.40am, the train also stopped at Chester, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Euxton Balshaw Lane, Blackburn, Clitheroe, Hellifield, Ribblehead, Garsdale, Appleby before ending at Carlise.
The locomotive then left Blackburn at 9.12 am to the applause of onlooking crowds.
Julie added: “The magnificent Nigel Gresley Loco steaming out of Blackburn.”
Since its retirement, the train has been targeted by the A4 Preservation Society, which refurbished it.
Sir Nigel Gresley, the train designer and namesake, was one of Britain’s most famous steam locomotive engineers and became chief mechanical engineer in the London and North East Railway.
READ MORE: Famous trainspotter Francis Bourgeois visits Lancashire station
READ MORE: What I learned at a heritage train event as an amateur
His expertise also led to the creation of the Flying Scotsman, arguably Britain’s most famous train.
Based in Crewe, the train will not operate again until mid-July where it will be used in the Edinburgh Summer Explorer, which includes a brief stop off in Stoke-on-Trent.
It will also feature at historic railway vehicles exhibition at Alstom’s factories in Derby which will feature more than 50 rolling stock exhibits of the past, present and future of the railways.
Up to 30,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event, which will form part of the wider Railway 200 festivities.
Share