A SNOW plough that helped rescue a stricken locomotive during one of last century’s worst winters is being restored in the North-East.

The plough arrived at Rail Restorations North-East in Shildon, County Durham on Thursday to be fitted with a new chassis, replacing its current one which is rotten.

In 1955, the engine played a key role in rescuing the No 78018 locomotive after it got stuck in Bleath Gill, near the Stainmore summit.

Heat from the boiler caused snow to melt, which turned to ice when it cooled down, trapping the engine.

The locomotive, built in Darlington the previous year, was marooned for five days before thawing enough to be hauled to West Auckland.

No 78018 returned to Darlington – the birthplace of the railways – in 1981, for restoration by the Darlington Railway Preservation Society.

And it seems the snow plough will have a lengthy stay in Shildon, as the body needs to be stripped before work can start on the timber chassis.

The company’s founding partner Dave Foxton said: “This is a piece of history, and I’m so pleased that we have been given the opportunity to do the job.”