THE first vehicle restored at a railway museum’s conservation workshops is heading south to go on show in another visitors attraction.

Woolmer was restored at Locomotion: the National Railway Museum at Shildon as part of the Learning in Motion project in 2007.

It has been displayed at Locomotion since November 2007 but will this month make the journey to Hampshire to be loaned to the Milestones Museum.

The locomotive was originally built in 1910 by Avonside of Bristol and worked on the Longmoor Military Railway in Hampshire until 1954.

It is an important part of Hampshire’s military and transport history and on this basis will go on display in Hampshire as part of an initial five year loan period.

Anthony Coulls, senior curator at Locomotion, said: "Woolmer is a very special locomotive for the restoration team as it was the first overhaul at Locomotion and actually in Shildon since the closure of Shildon Wagon Works. "It really demonstrated what the restoration team and the Learning in Motion Project could achieve, giving new life to vehicles within the collection and allowing museum visitors across the UK the opportunity to view this vehicle in its former glory.

"We are delighted that the locomotive will go on display in Hampshire given its local connection and hope it will be enjoyed by many visitors at the Milestones Museum."