TWO sisters of the world’s fastest steam train have started their long transatlantic trip home after being part of a one-off exhibition in the region.

The Dominion of Canada and the Dwight D Eisenhower left Liverpool loaded on a ship for their 2,527 journey across the sea on Saturday (May 3).

The two Doncaster-built A4 locomotives had been brought back to the UK to join their four sisters to mark the 75th anniversary of their most famous sibling, the Mallard, breaking the speed record for a steam train.

More than 365,000 people visited the six engines at the National Railway Museum’s sites in Shildon, near Bishop Auckland, and York earlier this year.

The cross-pond pair left Peel Ports, Port of Liverpool’s container terminal at around 12.30pm loaded onto low loader Mafi trailers and wrapped in red sheets aboard Atlantic Container Line’s (ACL) freighter ship Atlantic Concert.

The duo, who came to the UK in 2012, are due to arrive in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Friday, May 9, from where Dwight D Eisenhower will be returned to the National Railroad Museum in Wisconsin and the Dominion of Canada to Exporail, the Canadian National Railway Museum in Montreal.

Tobias Lumb, Head of Public Programmes and project manager of Mallard 75 at the National Railway Museum said: “When these mighty machines were exported across the Atlantic in the Sixties, no one thought they would return but, not only have they visited our shores for a two year visit, they have been admired by thousands during a hugely successful celebratory programme.

“The sheer scale of this transcontinental project was immense and testament to the vision and expertise of all those involved.”

Ian Higby, managing director of ACL said,: “Our unique roll-on roll-off ability for oversized and extraordinary cargo means these beautiful machines will be able to come off the vessel on our specialist heavy duty trailers with their dignity intact.”

From Halifax Nova Scotia the locomotives will continue their historic journey travelling across North America on rail wagons.

Midlands-based heavy haulage specialists Moveright International have overseen all aspects of the move with the outbound journey recorded by Channel 5’s Monster Moves documentary.