A RARE Darlington-built steam locomotive could soon be returning home - but first needs a home to enjoy its retirement.

Between 1937 and 1953 around 268 South African class 19D steam locomotives – nicknamed ‘Dollies’ – were built, with many constructed at the Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn works in Darlington.

Now the Darlington Railway Preservation Society (DRPS) has been given the opportunity to welcome home one of the Dollies from South Africa free of charge.

The Dolly has been working since it was exported from Darlington in 1947 – and incredibly was still in use up until August 2015.

This makes it the last of its kind still in working condition, and one of the last conventional British steam locomotives in regular service anywhere in the world.

Barrie Lamb, chairman of the DRPS, said: “Over the years they’ve slowly been scrapped in South Africa.

"There are only three of them left and two aren’t in any condition to save, this is the only one. It’s a one-off chance really, there aren’t many chances of getting a Darlington built export loco back home again.”

The North British Locomotive Preservation Group offered the Dolly to the DRPS, after management at Sappi's Saicor wood pulp mill near Durban donated it as a goodwill gesture.

The two societies are working together to secure funding for shipping costs, however before that can happen a site to display the Dolly must be found.

“Even scrap value it’s worth around thirty or forty thousand pounds, so in the condition it’s in it’s priceless," said Mr Lamb. "It should be on show available for people to see, so we’re looking for ideas and suggestions for where that could be.

"It’s 60 feet long and it weighs 130 tonnes. It’s complete with all the brass on and all the gear so you daren’t leave it outside because it would get stripped off.

“I think it would be tremendous to have in Darlington, it’s certainly something worth seeing – most people are interested in the British locomotives, but the ones that went abroad are the ones that opened up the world and the works in Darlington played a big part in that.”

To get involved in the appeal, contact Mr Lamb at barrielamb14@ntlworld.com or 01325 350174.