Black Prince train being moved to Bressingham Steam Museum

Black Prince was built in Swindon in 1959 and served eight years with British Railways before being withdrawn in November 1967.

In the early 1980s, it worked the heaviest steam-hauled freight train in Britain, of 2,198 tonnes, at Foster Yeoman’s Tor Works.

Black Prince is going on loan with Bressingham Steam Museum (Image: North Norfolk Railway)

After retirement, the large locomotive was taken to the North Norfolk Railway (NNR) in Sheringham where it has been since. 

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But Black Prince will head south to Bressingham Steam Museum for the next two years as part of a partnership between the two institutions.

Graham Hukins, North Norfolk Railway's general manager, said: "This is an excellent arrangement for both the NNR and Bressingham.

"We anticipate this exciting initiative being the start of a mutually beneficial collaboration between the two organisations." 

Chris Leah, chair of the trustees at Bressingham Steam Museum, added: "We at Bressingham are delighted and proud that the North Norfolk Railway wish to partner with us to house its iconic locomotive.

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"It will be on show here at Bressingham and we are looking forward to working with North Norfolk on a programme of joint promotions.

It will begin its journey south on Monday (Image: North Norfolk Railway)

"All visitors will be welcome and it is pleasing that two East Anglian organisations can work together for the benefit of steam preservation."

The engine is being towed to Sheringham today where it will then be transported to Bressingham where it will go on display at the Steam Museum's Annual Heritage Steam Gala on May 4, 5 and 6.

The event will feature visiting road steam engines, steam farmyard demonstrations, a mixture of stationary and portable engines and Victorian Gallopers.