A STEAM train will roll out of Chorley station at the end of this month for the first time in more than 30 years.

The ex-LMS Pacific No 6201 "Princess Elizabeth" will haul a special excursion train to York.

And organisers feel sure it will attract rail enthusiasts from all over the region.

Tony Aldam, tour manager at travel firm John Fishwick and Sons, Leyland, who are putting on the trip, said: "As far as we can ascertain it is the first steam train to depart from Chorley since the end of steam on British Rail in 1968.

"Previous steam-hauled excursions have proved popular, with lots of people taking photographs and filming the train".

"We did one in July and the number of people who rang up for timings so they could take photographs was remarkable.

"It is surprising how it can draw attention. On a Settle to Carlisle trip we had a helicopter buzzing the train for quite some time to film of it.

"They were going from one side of the train to the other just filming it. It does attract the people along the way."

The Princess Elizabeth is seen as a most appropriately-named locomotive in this, the Queen's Golden Jubilee year.

Designed by William Stanier, this class of locomotive first appeared in 1933 and could handle the fastest express passenger trains on the West Coast route during the golden days of steam.

The "Minster Express" trip to York for the annual St Nicholas Christmas Festival on Saturday, November 30, will start diesel-hauled from Blackpool North and arrive in Preston where the steam loco will join up at the front.

From there it will head to Leyland, Chorley, Bolton and Manchester Victoria. The route then goes over the Pennines, through Hebden Bridge to Wakefield where the loco will stop to take water before continuing to York.

For bookings and further details contact 01772 421207.