THE Sir Nigel Gresley became the latest steam train to pass through Wellington this summer when it hauled an English Riviera Express from the Midlands to Kingswear, in Devon.

After a 5 am start from Wolverhampton, locomotive No 60007 passed through Wellington shortly after 11 am, and then returned just before 7 pm.

The Mallard class locomotive was named after the man who designed the iconic Flying Scotsman, which thousands of enthusiasts turned out to watch steam through Wellington in April.

The Sir Nigel Gresley steam locomotive returning through Wellington.
The Sir Nigel Gresley steam locomotive returning through Wellington. (Chris Perrin)

The visit comes as the country prepares to mark 55 years in August since the then-British Rail ran its last steam train on the UK’s railways, giving way to diesel power.

At least six more steam trains will be seen between now and September as two different rail tour firms run locomotives to locations in Devon, with the first of them coming next weekend (July 30).

The Railway Touring Company Ltd (RTC) will operate a ‘Royal Duchy’ tour from Slough to Plymouth on Sunday, July 30, and again on August 20.

The excursion will be steam hauled by locomotive No 46233 Duchess of Sutherland, passing Wellington at about 10.10 am and 9.10 am on each occasion.

The Duchess of Sutherland is a Princess Coronation Class locomotive built for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1938 and restored in 2001.

RTC will also run the tour on Sunday, September 10, this time hauled by locomotive No 45596 Bahamas, which came through Wellington most recently in May.

The Duchess of Sutherland steam locomotive which can be seen in Wellington this summer.
The Duchess of Sutherland steam locomotive which can be seen in Wellington this summer. (Railway Touring Company)

The Bahamas, a LMS Jubilee class locomotive, was built in Glasgow in 1934 and toured in 2019 for the first time in 25 years after a major overhaul.

It should be seen in the town shortly before 9.30 am and again at about 9.10 pm on the return leg.

Saphos Trains, which operated the Sir Nigel Gresley excursion, will use steam trains for tours to Devon passing through Wellington on August 12, 19, and 24.

However, the firm has not disclosed which of its pool of restored steam engines will be used on the journeys.

The fleet also includes the world-famous LMS Royal Scott class No 46100 Royal Scot, West Country Class No 34046 Braunton, and Britannia Pacific Class No 70000 Britannia.