AN iconic locomotive which still holds the UK post-war steam speed record of 112 mph will make its first visit to Minehead in May as a star attraction of the West Somerset Railway’s (WSR) spring steam spectacular.

The streamlined A4 class Pacific express ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ will be only the second of its class to steam as far as Minehead - ‘Bittern’ reached the terminus in 2009.

Other Pacifics have not ventured further than Bishops Lydeard.

The steam train festival from May 1 to 4 will also mark three major anniversaries - the WSR’s celebration of 50 years of operations, 30 years of spring galas, and 150 years since the birth of the locomotive’s designer Sir Nigel Gresley, chief mechanical engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway.

Sir Nigel will be represented at the festival by the engine bearing his name - 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’, one of his streamlined A4 Class Pacifics which once worked the prestige passenger services from London Kings Cross to Leeds, York, Newcastle, and Edinburgh.

The A4 Mallard still holds the record for the world’s fastest steam locomotive at 126 mph and is a major attraction at the National Railway Museum, in York.

That run was made in 1938, but 60007 set the post-war steam speed record when it attained 112 mph in 1959.

During its time with the WSR it will have to observe the permitted heritage railway speed of 25 mph.

Unlike many other preserved steam locomotives, ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ did not have the indignity of time spent in a scrapyard.

On being displaced by Deltic diesel locos on the East Coast main line, it had a final fling on the Aberdeen to Glasgow expresses.

After being withdrawn by British Railways in February, 1966, it was privately purchased and since then has hauled many mainline excursion trains, including those arriving at Bishops Lydeard.

A WSR spokesperson said: “In a nice historical twist, the locomotive now named ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ was originally due to be called ‘Bittern’.

“But, as it was the 100th Pacific to be built at the Doncaster workshops, a decision was made that it should honour its designer and his work for the Great Northern Railway and the LNER.

“The names Bittern and Mallard reflect Gresley’s interest in wild birds.”

Sir Nigel, who was LNER chief mechanical engineer from 1922 until his death in1941, is buried in the churchyard at Netherseal, in South Derbyshire.

No 60007 continues to commemorate the life and work of a great engineer of the 20th century.

The engine was sold by British Railways in 1966 and is owned by a charity, the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust.

Based in Crewe, it runs regularly on mainline and heritage railways.

The spring steam spectacular will feature at least seven steam engines at work between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead.

Rover tickets, giving the freedom of the line for a day or more, can be purchased from the WSR website or by calling 01643 704996, Mondays to Fridays.