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Not very often can one see a steam locomotive on a British mainline but today LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 No 60019 Bittern is operating on the Cathedrals Express Carol Concert Special steam charter service, hauling 13 coaches from King's Cross, London, to Norwich, via Cambridge and Ely. The train travels in a cloud of steam and snow, the latter being lifted from the track and swirled through the air by the speedily passing train > Link. The loco is approaching Norwich at approximately 65 mph.

Originally numbered 4464, the steam locomotive 'Bittern' was built for the LNER (London and North Eastern Railway) in 1937 at Doncaster Works. It is a Pacific 4-6-2 locomotive built by Sir Nigel Gresley to the same design as the more famous A4 Mallard - the holder of the world speed record for steam locomotives at 125.88 mph (202.58 km/h) - and it is one of only six (out of 35) to have survived. Besides hauling very heavy passenger trains during WWII, the locomotive was later used for hauling heavy freight and coal trains. After a short revival of steam-pulled services, 'Bittern' was moved to Scotland and put into storage, and eventually withdrawn from British Railways traffic in 1966. The locomotive has since been bought for preservation and is fully restored. In July 2009 it made a 188-mile test run from King's Cross to York non-stop, using a second tender. 'Bittern' is certified for mainline use and currently operating on various steam charters.

This view was taken from a footbridge over the line > Link.

For more information read Link.