A ‘Wimborne’ locomotive will make its first run on the tracks of Wimborne Model Town’s railway layout this Thursday 5 August. Members of the miniature railway team have been busy preparing an 00 gauge engine, which has been sponsored by Mayor Kelly Webb, with Wimborne nameplates and the town council’s crest.

A spokesman from the charity said: “Originally painted malachite green with sunshine stripes, West Country class steam locomotives brought a touch of colour to the post war tracks of the Southern and Somerset and Dorset railways which we have recorded in our local railway history display.  Although regularly passing through Wimborne, the town’s name was never assigned to one of the streamlined engines until now.”

The Mayor will be on hand to see the inaugural run of the steamer and also a late 1950s British Rail Class 31 Diesel model bearing her name.