CROWDS gathered at train stations across Gwent yesterday as one of the UK’s most famous locomotives chugged through the area.

The Princess Elizabeth, named after Her Majesty as she was known as before she became Queen, travelled from London Paddington to Ludlow and Shrewsbury, passing Bristol and heading through the Severn Tunnel towards Newport.

It then travelled up the Welsh Marches line, passing the Maindee North junction, and Pontypool and New Inn stations as well as Abergavenny, before carrying on its journey to the West Midlands.

In the evening, it then made its way back from Shrewsbury and Ludlow through the same stops before terminating in Slough.

The locomotive, which is more than 80-years-old, was first created in Crewe when the then-Princess Elizabeth was just seven years of age.

It was withdrawn from service in the 1960s, but its popularity saw a newly set up society buy the train for £2,160 and ensure it ran again.

One of the most recent members of the 6201 Princess Elizabeth Society, Roland Norton, said he joined the group after learning about its history.

“My uncle from Australia was visiting the UK back in 2012, and as a treat for him I organised a trip hauled by Princess Elizabeth from Birmingham to Stratford," he said.

“It was a great day out, so when he wanted to revisit I looked into doing something similar again.

“However by this time "Lizzie" was undergoing overhaul, and the only way to get to see her was to become a member of the society and go and lend a hand with whatever needed doing.

“We were both taken aback by how few people were helping out, and the enormity of the task in completing the overhaul. So I got more and more involved in trying to turn the situation around, even organising a sponsored cycle ride in 2015 to try and raise some much needed funds to help complete the overhaul.

“We raised an impressive £2,850 which is a drop in the ocean by comparison to what is needed, but it also served as a morale boost for everyone concerned and finally the loco was completed just a few weeks ago.”

Princess Elizabeth last passed through Gwent in 2012, as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Mr Norton said: “6201 Princess Elizabeth is one of the most powerful steam locomotives still in running order on the mainline, and the sight and sound of her passing by is something remarkable.”