THREE locomotives are expected to attract rail enthusiasts from across the region when they arrive at a railway museum next week.

Staff at Locomotion: National Railway Museum, in Shildon, County Durham, are preparing to welcome the engines, which were built during the golden age of steam.

The first to arrive, on Wednesday, will be the 1247 Great Northern Tank Engine, built in 1897.

The machine was used more as a shunter for small goods trains in goods yards and became the first engine to be purchased from British Rail by a private collector when its working life came to an end.

Its owner, Captain Bill Smith, later donated it to the National Railway Museum in the 1980s.

On Thursday, the Adams 563 will take its place in the museum's 6,000sq ft collection centre.

The 111-year-old London South Western Railway Express engine was a familiar sight to passengers on the Waterloo to Bournemouth route.

It was withdrawn from service in 1939 only to be recalled because of the war. It was retired in 1945 and was restored in 1948.

Another passenger locomotive from the early 1900s is also expected to thrill enthusiasts when it arrives on Tuesday, August 17.

The Great Northern Atlantic 251 was the first of its kind to be built in 1902 and ran until 1947. It has been at the NRM in York ever since.

Another engine is also expected in the next couple of weeks. While passengers in the South were still living in the steam age, North Eastern Railway was supplying Newcastle with electric trains.

The North Eastern Bo-Bo No 1, which was built in 1902, is a fine example of this and it too will take its place at the museum.

Collections manager Anthony Coulls said: "The highlight of our collection has got to be the Sans Pareil.

"It is our jewel, but these items are some of the other stars for the collection that we hope will appeal to both general visitors and enthusiasts."

The £11m railway museum will open on September 27.