An historic loco is heading overseas. Bellerophon, normally based at the Vintage Carriages Trust (VCT) Museum at Ingrow, is to visit Belgium and the Netherlands.
The loco, built in 1874, will star in a festival weekend at Stoomcentrum Maldegem late next month. It will then travel to Stichting Museum Buurt Spoorweg at Haaksbergen, the Netherlands, to haul some summer services.
VCT loco caretaker Mark Astley says: "This is not the first time we have sent a steam locomotive overseas - back in 1996 we sent our other operational loco, Sir Berkeley, to Haaksbergen.
"We are delighted to be co-operating with our friends in the Netherlands once again and we are also looking forward to visiting Maldegem for the first time."
Bellerophon - the holder of a blue plaque award from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers - is a surviving example of the first successful use of piston valves in a steam loco. It is among the few steam locomotives to have its own entry in The Guinness Book of Railway Facts and Feats.
The engine has featured in several TV programmes including A History of British Art.
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