THE arrival of North Eastern Railway 0-8-0 steam locomotive No 901 was a low-key affair.

Strapped to the back of a low-loader lorry, the black loco was delivered to its new County Durham home on Tuesday evening.

Even as it moved slowly towards Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, Shildon, eager enthusiasts were waiting - cameras at the ready.

Rail enthusiast Kenneth Hodgson, who was trackside for yesterday's official unveiling, admitted he had been fortunate enough to gain a sneak preview.

"I was able to catch a glimpse of it and take a couple of photos from my attic window as it arrived.

"This is an exciting time for the town and it will be great when more engines arrive and the museum is up and running," said Mr Hodgson, of Redworth Road, Shildon.

"I have really been looking forward to this."

Enthusiasts yesterday clambered over fences and lined the Spout Lane Railway Bridge as the engine stood proudly in the sunshine outside the 6,000sq ft building where it will be displayed.

It will be one of 60 engines from the NRM's collection, in York, which will eventually be housed at the Shildon museum, due to open in September.

The T3 class locomotive, built in 1919, was the most powerful engine built at the North Eastern Railway's Darlington works.

It was renamed "Q7" when the NER was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway in 1924 and enjoyed a working life of more than 40 years.

Among the first to welcome it were Leslie and Edith Dunn, both 80.

Mr Dunn, a director of Dunns Haulage, in Shildon, gave access to construction company Balfour Beaty, which built the collections centre and to the museum to bring exhibits in through its haulage yard, off Spout Lane.

Mr Dunn said: "Our family has a long personal connection with the railways, so when the museum requested our help, we were more than happy to oblige. This is just marvellous.''

Anthony Coulls, collections care manager at Locomotion, said that the arrival of the engine had gone like clockwork.

He said: "Today has been the culmination of a lot of hard work from a lot of people from behind the scenes both in Shildon and in York.

"This is just the beginning with the first proper exhibit arriving.

"We think it is fitting that it is a large freight engine that was made in Darlington and used in the North-East until the early 1960s. We wanted something that was special to the area."

Published: 17/06/2004