A STUNNING steam engine roared through Herefordshire and into Shropshire this week.

Dating back to 1948, 61306 Mayflower was completed by the North British Locomotive Company to an LNER design and delivered after nationalisation to British Railways, according to Preserved British Steam Locomotives. 

61306 Mayflower61306 Mayflower (Image: Karen Price)

Withdrawn from service in the 1960s, it was later purchased for preservation at Steamtown Carnforth, Preserved British Steam Locomotives said, and named Mayflower.

By 2006, it had been sold privately to the Boden family, later being bought by David Buck in 2014 and moving to the North Norfolk Railway.

61306 Mayflower disappears into the distance61306 Mayflower disappears into the distance (Image: Karen Price)

After an overhaul, 61306 took to the mainline in 2019 hauling steam excursions. She is currently used in the Steam Dreams programme of rail tours and the Locomotive Services Limited pool of engines.

The locomotive was snapped as it hauled carriages through Herefordshire towards Shrewsbury on September 4.