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Historic B1 steam locomotive Mayflower to pass through Canterbury East and West train stations

By: Anna MacSwan

Published: 13:33, 12 June 2019

Updated: 13:33, 12 June 2019

A historic steam train will pass through Canterbury tomorrow.

The majestic 61306 Mayflower, one of just two surviving B1 class locomotives, will be stopping off at both of the city's railway stations as she journeys from London to Dover's White Cliffs.

The powerful B1s, which were built to haul both passenger trains and freight traffic, once worked across most of the UK rail network from East Anglia to Scotland, but today are a rare sight.

The Mayflower, one of two surviving B1 locomotives. Picture: Steam Dreams.

The Mayflower, originally built in Glasgow in 1948, was the last in service and her final trip was hauling the 'Yorkshire Pullman' from Leeds in September 1967.

Now restored to her former glory and resplendent in early British Railways apple green livery, she will be dropping off and picking up passengers at Canterbury East between 11.53 and midday tomorrow, from Platform 1.

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In the evening, she will steam through Canterbury West's Platform 2 between 20.36 and 20.43.

The Mayflower at Waterloo

Complete with two cylinders and six driving wheels, the Mayflower can operate at 75mph and is owned by the tour company Steam Dreams.

Earlier this week, she caused rush hour delays at London Waterloo after getting in too early due to a signalling error.

Her arrival ahead of schedule at Britain's busiest railway station led to several hours of disruption for passengers travelling on South Western Railway services.

Read more: All the latest news from Canterbury

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