THE first of a summer season of steam trains will pass through Wellington on Sunday (May 5) morning and evening.

The Railway Touring Company (RTC) starts its tours with a Bristol to Cornwall excursion pulled by one of its ‘Black 5’ steam engines.

RTC operates three London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) Stanier Class 5 4-6-0 locomotives, known as ‘Black 5s’.

The company has not said which engine will pull Sunday’s Royal Duchy excursion, but the locomotive will be seen passing through Wellington at about 10.05am and again at about 8.45pm.

The locomotive trio are LMS Black 5 4-6-0 no 44871, which will mark its 80th anniversary next year, Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 no 44932, which also dates to 1945, and LMS Jubilee Class 4-6-0 no 45596 ‘Bahamas, built in 1934.

RTC steam locomotives will also haul excursions through Wellington on July 28, August 18, and September 1.