THE first locomotive engine to be built at the Horwich Loco Works has been chosen as the model for a £25,000 sculpture.

The famous Aspinall Radial Tank loco, number 1008, built in 1888, was the firm favourite of Bolton Evening News Readers who were asked to vote for the engine they thought should take pride of place as a futuristic sculpture at the Tesco roundabout at Middlebrook.

We asked readers to choose from three engines built at the famous Horwich Loco works.

And the winner by a huge majority was the 1008.

The engine, now painted in the black livery of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, can can still be seen at the National Railway Museum in York where it is a popular attraction.

It was designed by John Audley Frederick Aspinall, and apart from the wheel and tyres (which came from Germany) all the parts were made at Horwich. It rolled out of the works on February 20, 1889 and went into service in Southport. It also worked the Midland services in 1926 and finally ended its duty days on September 18,1954.

The 1008 will be brought back to life in the sculpture designed by London artist Tom Wilkinson. It will be built from discs of mild steel and will be 20 feet high.

Mr Wilkinson, who got his inspiration from M D Smith's Horwich Locomotive Works book was delighted with the choice.

"It is the one I liked best," he said. He added that the draft drawings for the sculpture should be ready in the New Year. The aim of the sculpture, commissioned by Bolton council in conjunction with Tesco and Georgia Pacific GB, is to connect history with modern day.

The runner up was the Aspinall 4-4-2 "1400" Class Express Engine with the 0-6- Goods engine, No 417 in third place. All the names of those who voted for the 1008 we put in a hat and the name of Mr Michael McEwing of Turton Road, Bradshaw was drawn out. He will be an invited guest at the unveiling of the sculpture next year.