114-year-old locomotive ready for passengers

A 114-year-old locomotive at a heritage railway will take passengers on short train journeys from the Easter weekend.

The Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST, named the Caledonia Works, is the duty locomotive at Mid-Suffolk Light Railway.

Its first public outing at Brockford Station will be on 31 March and it will remain there until the end of September.

Marketing manager John Reeve said the guest locomotive really "looks the part" and would be a great addition for families to enjoy.

"It's running very nicely and it looks the part on our railway," he said.

"We're very pleased to have it as both of our current incumbent locomotives are under repair."

The other steam locomotive at the railway is not "particularly strong", according to Mr Reeve, meaning "something a bit stronger" was needed to pull the passenger coaches down the 400m (1,312 ft) track.

The locomotive will run from 11:00 BST on 31 March and on 1 April.

It will then be available for trips down the line on most Sundays, bank holidays and for other events.

"It's an opportunity to see the engine work and also get hauled along in our Victorian coaches," Mr Reeve said.

"We've already had a lot of advance bookings which is really encouraging mainly because it's our first proper open day."

The railway, commonly known as the Middy, will also host an exhibit from the United States Air Force's 34th Bomb Group, which was previously based at nearby RAF Mendlesham during World War Two.

"We're quite excited about that as it's another dimension to our line," Mr Reeve said.

Other events this year include the 'Middy in the 40s' weekend in May celebrating the railway's role in World War Two with a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight fly-past.

"There will be a Spitfire coming over us and flying up and down the line," Mr Reeve said.

"It's a real lump in the throat moment when that comes past."

An extension is also being added to the railway in 2024, which will bring its total length to about 1,000m (3,281ft).

"We'll be about twice as long as we are at the moment - which is not very long - but at the same time it runs through rural countryside so it actually looks like what it would have 100 years ago," Mr Reeve added.

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