ONE of the rail industry's most prized treasures rolled up in the North-East yesterday to celebrate the opening of a multi-million pound museum.

The City of Truro is due to be one of the star attractions at Locomotion: National Railway Museum (NRM) at Shildon when it opens today.

The 101-year-old engine, which is famous for being the first steam locomotive to reach 100mph, travelled from Swindon, arriving in Shildon under cover on the back of a lorry, at 10pm on Thursday.

Yesterday, rail enthusiasts joined NRM staff to put the historic engine together in time for the opening.

Last night it was standing proudly outside the 6,000sq ft collections centre ready to thrill visitors today.

Anthony Coulls, collections manager at Locomotion, said: "This is the final piece of the jigsaw and what a fine piece of the jigsaw it is.

"The atmosphere at the museum is quite exciting and the climax will be when we finally open the doors and the visitors arrive.''

The City of Truro will remain at Locomotion until the end of next month, when it will be taken to Cornwall for another engagement.

It is 100 years since it smashed the speed record and enthusiasts from a railway magazine raised £50,000 towards the £100,000 that was needed to bring it back into working order in time for its centenary.

Recently, it has spent time working the Bodmin to Winford line before heading to Swindon where it operated over last weekend.

It was loaded on to the back of a low loader in Swindon on Wednesday morning for the journey to Shildon.

Ray Towell, from the NRM, said: "This is one of the jewels in the crown of the national collection and a great favourite with visitors.''

Locomotion opens at 10am today. At 11.30am, Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster will join the Mayor of Sedgefield Borough, Councillor Marie Predki, and museum chairman Rod Smith at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the City of Truro, which will be working under full steam.

About 3,000 visitors are expected to attend the opening and drivers are encouraged to use the park-and-ride scheme, which is signposted from the Shildon bypass.

It is estimated that the £11m venture, a partnership between Sedgefield Borough Council and the NRM, will attract about 60,000 visitors a year.