Commuters in Wokingham were treated to a blast from the past on Tuesday morning when a steam locomotive powered through the station.
Shortly before 9am the former LMS engine, 44871, which is based at the East Lancashire Railway, was seen hauling the ‘Cardiff Christmas Express’ from London Victoria to the Welsh capital for the Railway Touring Company.
The locomotive was built in 1945 and originally operated for the London, Midland and Scottish railway.
It was withdrawn from service in 1968 and, after time in a scrapyard, was restored to current mainline standards.
The steam engine’s television credits include an appearance on Coronation Street when pulling Roy and Hayley Cropper’s wedding train.
