SCORES of rail enthusiasts flocked to see an historic express steam locomotive as it made a rare appearance in Cumbria.

It is more than a decade since people last caught a glimpse of the 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe on tracks in the county.

Built in 1936 and celebrating its 88th birthday this month, it is a steam locomotive of the 'Castle' class. It was designed by the Great Western Railway (GWR), and last travelled into this county during 2013.

All of which meant that eager enthusiasts were out in force with their cameras and mobile phones on Saturday afternoon to capture its latest visit for posterity.

Video clips of the locomotive passing through the Lune Gorge and climbing up Shap Fell on its way to Carlisle were posted online on YouTube, and were widely commented upon.

Branded the 'Shap Mountaineer', the locomotive had travelled north into Cumbria on a booked charter trip. It was turned around at Carlisle before making the return journey south to Crewe with an estimated 250 people on board in eight passenger coaches.

One enthusiast, Eddie West, of Currock, Carlisle, was in pole position at Penrith to see the steam locomotive for himself.

“There were quite a few people there, about a couple of dozen, with cameras,” said Eddie.

“It is unusual to see that type of locomotive in the north west. It’s very much like seeing the Flying Scotsman coming through. It is very rare.”

The locomotive was built at Swindon Works. It had originally been given the name Barbury Castle, after an iron age hilltop fort five miles south of the Wiltshire town; and was renamed Earl of Mount Edgcumbe in 1937, after one of the GWR’s aristocratic directors.

It frequently hauled the GWR's Cheltenham Flyer, which at that time was the fastest train in the world.