Legendary locomotive leaves Peterborough railway museum after 50 years on show

A rare steam locomotive that has been a showpiece at railway museum for half a century is heading to a new home.

The rare Battle of Britain Class steam loco, named 92 Squadron, has been in-situ at Nene Valley Railway museum in Peterborough for the past 50 years, but is destined for a new home in Lancashire.

The train requires maintenance and the museum say they are unable to house the legendary locomotive while they plan for future exhibits.

Alan Whenman, from the Battle of Britain Locomotive Society, said: "We've got an overhaul coming and the railway can't accommodate this for us. It's as simple as that.

"They've got limited resources and it needs a lot of time and a lot of the railway just can't accommodate it.

"So sadly for us, we've got to go. But we're going to a good home at the East Lancs where it should be run and then they can do the overhaul."The steam engine came into service in 1948, but by the 1970s it had ended up in a scrap yard in Wales. It was rescued by the Battle of Britain Locomotive Society in 1976.Mr Whenman added: "It took us 21 years to actually get it from scrap to a running locomotive.

"We're proud of it and the idea of it coming to the end of a ten year cycle and then just sitting in a siding going rusty didn't appeal."The steam was transported to its new home on the back of an HGV lorry and as it departed Peterborough, Chris O'Regan from Nene Valley Railway, said it was the end of an era.

"We do love that locomotive and we are sad to see it go," he said.

"We hope that following its overhaul we'll be able to have 92 return to as at some point as a visiting loco."

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