A TOWN's residents were bursting with pride last weekend as thousands of visitors flocked to the region to witness the start of a new era.

Shildon unveiled Locomotion: National Railway Museum on Saturday as people travelled from as far as Canada to see what the North-East's first national museum has to offer.

Museum bosses said that crowds of 6,000 people had exceeded their expectations with people expected from China and Japan in the coming weeks.

Families stepped back in time to the years when steam engines carried passengers to and from their destination in a time when design and looks were just as vital as the working condition of the engine.

Visitors began their trip down memory lane at the museum's new Welcome Centre, which is housed in the 1884 Sunday School, yards away from rail pioneer Timothy Hackworth's Soho works.

His most famous creation, The Sans Pareil, stands in the centre of the building as part of an exhibit that tells the story of how Shildon's love affair with the railways began.

Another attraction is Hackworth's former home, built in 1831, and the Soho Shed.

Volunteers who have painstakingly rebuilt a replica of the 175-year-old Sans Pareil were waiting to take families on a thrilling journey through time belching steam as the replica engine carried them down the track to the 6,000 sq ft collections centre.

The 101-year-old City of Truro, a fine example of the magnificent machines of the time, proudly welcomed visitors to Locomotion's collections centre - the home of 60 of the finest of the NRM's national collection.

She had been lovingly reassembled and polished the day before by experts and enthusiasts after a gruelling journey north on the back of a lorry from Swindon.

Restored to her former glory after a £100,000 overhaul, she stands outside the collections centre whistling and bellowing out steam and enveloping visitors with a sense of nostalgia. Many stood and watched her, breathing in the smells of yesteryear.

One visitor walking past in admiration said: "Don't you just love the smell of steam trains? There is just something about it. They certainly don't make them like they used to."

Young children who have only seen pictures of the machines in story books stood back in awe as they wandered around the collections shed taking in engines and wagons that go right back to the early 1800s.

There was no time for boredom as every few yards a new challenge presented itself to them in the shape of interactive games with a railway theme.

Museum manager George Muirhead said: "It is wonderful but exhausting. We are very pleased with the thousands who have turned out despite the weather. I think seeing so many people in the museum is a real credit to everybody who has been involved in the project."

Saturday's opening was a low key event so that the people of Shildon could see 'their museum' for the first time.

A handful of dignitaries including chairman of the museum Rod Smith, Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster, Mayor of Sedgefield Borough Council Marie Predki and head of the National Railway Museum, Andrew Scott carried out a small ceremonial ribbon-cutting in front of the City of Truro to acknowledge the opening.

Hackworth's great-great grandchildren proudly joined the VIP's at the opening ceremony.

His great great grandaughter, Jane Hackworth-Young said: "I think this means a lot to us all because we were all brought up knowing about Timothy Hackworth and what he did.

"I don't think anybody realised just how important he was. In fact, you could say that he was the forgotten pioneer.

"I just wish my father was here. It has been a 30-plus year endeavour to bring this to fruition and this is very exciting for me.''

The Flying Scotsman, possibly the jewel in the crown of the National collection, will be making the journey from York by rail for the official grand opening on October 22, which promises to be a huge occasion.