ANOTHER classic locomotive steamed into Hereford today.

No. 7029 Clun Castle was hauling a Welsh Marches excursion from Dorridge, near Solihull, to the city.

The tour departed Dorridge at 7.45am and arrived in Hereford at 12.41pm.

On its return trip the train, which departed Hereford at 5.18pm, passed through Leominster (5.34pm) on its back back to Dorridge, where it was due to arrive at 8.25pm.

A ticket for first class dining on the train cost £250 per person while standard class was £95.

The Duchess of Sutherland thrilled onlookers when it passed through Herefordshire in April, as did the Lord Dowding earlier this month.

The Clun Castle was built to the Great Western Railway Castle Class design shortly after nationalisation at the ex-Great Western Railway's Swindon Works in 1950.

On May 9, 1964 it broke the record for a steam locomotive over the Devon Banks from Plymouth to Bristol, a record that was held for 50 years until the time was beaten by another Castle Class locomotive, No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.

After touring throughout England to mark the end of steam, in 1967 Clun Castle was bought from British Railways for the scrap value of £3,600.

It was placed in trust and later restored.