TRAIN-LOVERS were going loco this weekend after seeing old locomotives and engines built in Derby at a special rail event.
Midland Railway, in Butterley, held the two-day event to celebrate 175 years of train-building in the city.
And visitors of all ages were given the special treat of riding the 73129 locomotive, worth £350,000, which is owned by Derby City Council.
The train, one of the last steam locomotives to be built at Derby works, returned to its home at Midland Railway after spending the summer at Severn Valley Railway.
John Williams, who worked as a train driver around the South Coast for British Rail for 27 years, was at the event with former railway colleagues.
John, 73, who lives in Rochester, said: "Trains have changed so much nowadays.
"It is nice to know that youngsters are interested in trains and not just adults who are keen.
"There are 15 of us who have come to Butterley. We have never been before. It is nice to see the old locomotives."
Josh Dixon, 27, of Swanwick, was at Butterley with his two-year-old son, Bobby, and was on board the 73129, which was renumbered as 73154.
Josh said: "We heard about the special weekend so we thought we would come along.
"We love coming to Butterley and going on the old trains. Bobby is obsessed with trains."
Sam Bridges, who works as a travel ticket inspector at Butterley, said the weekend event had been a success.
He said: "The event went very well with lots of people coming on the trains to have a look at them.
"It is important to celebrate the heritage of the railways and what was built in Derby."
A special carriage was also on show; the 6320 London, Midland and Scottish Railway Saloon, which was built at Derby Carriage and Wagon works in 1927.
It was a first-class corridor brake coach before being converted into an inspection saloon in 1960 for the chief projects officer of the West Coast Main Line Electrification scheme.
In May 1974, it was part of the Royal Train used to convey Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh when they inspected the West Coast main line between Preston and Glasgow.
John Balls, volunteer for The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust – which bought the 6320 carriage in 2001 – said: "It's great that people still want to see the old locomotives and have a ride on them and it is wonderful that these locomotives are working well.
"Train heritage must be celebrated by the public."
People also got the opportunity to see a locomotive dating from 1866, a carriage from 1865 and D4 a diesel locomotive from the 1950s.
Helen Brewster, day manager at Midland Railway, said: "Hundreds of people turned out to see the old locomotives and join in with the celebrations, which is very important if we are to carry on remembering the heritage of train building in the city."
