Rail enthusiasts get special treat as historic steam engine passes through town

Rail enthusiasts were treated to a nice treat this morning (Friday) as a historic steam engine made its way through the Melton Borough.

Sir Nigel Gresley (60007) was on a special service taking passengers to Chester as part of a special Steam Dreams excusrion from Colchester. The service was replaced by the historic steam train in Peterborough before approacing Melton and heading off to it's final destination.

Sir Nigel Gresley steaming through Saxby on Friday morning. Insert: The locomotive passing through Melton Railway Station. Photos: NEMM

The locomotive holds the post-war speed record for steam locomotives on British Railways achieving an impressive 112mph in May 1959.

The locomotive was withdrawn from service in 1966 and purchased for preservation the same year; it is one of six A4s to be preserved.

At Chester, 60007 will leave the train, and passengers will return home with a diesel.

Departing Chester at 18:04, the train will return to Colchester via Crewe (18:27), Nuneaton (20:00), Leicester (20:36), Peterborough (21:56), Ely (22:43), Bury St Edmunds (23:36), Ipswich (00:16) and Colchester at 00:41.