THE first steam engine to be built in the UK for more than 50 years rolled into Gwent yesterday as part of a St David’s Day journey between England and Wales.

The Tornado locomotive pulled into Newport railway station at 12.42pm on the St David’s Day Cathedral Express route between London Victoria and Swansea.

Passengers in the 12 carriages travelled at speeds of up to 75 mph through Severn Tunnel Junction, Maindee West Junction, Ebbw Junction and Marshfield before heading onto Cardiff and Swansea.

The 170 tonne train is a replica of the 49 steams trains designed by Arthur Peppercorn for the London and North Eastern Railway during the 1940s.

After all the original engines were scrapped in the 1960s, the Darlington-based A1 Steam Locomotive Trust decided to build a new model in 1990.

The Tornado Locomotive took 18 years and £3 million to build.

Dave Woolven, from Malpas, went down to Undy to watch the train make its way through Gwent.

He said: “It was absolutely brilliant. There’s something about steam trains – they’re just so alive and the sight and sound of it was just fantastic.”

The train was due to arrive in Swansea at 2.40pm before heading back to London last night.