Museum town gets new loco

A huge 35-tonne historic locomotive has been moved to its new home at a Shropshire museum as part of a £12 million revamp.

The Andrew Barclay Locomotive used to be housed at the Coalbrookdale Muse-um of Iron.

Now the vehicle will take pride of place at the open-air Blists Hill Victorian Town after being winched out of its previous home during a special operation yesterday.

The 1896 locomotive, which is known as Peter to enthusiasts, was lifted and moved using jacks and winches on to a special lorry from Ainscough Vanguard.

The company, along with the Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum, helped to fund the move.

Staff watched as "Peter" was moved into place opposite the new multi-million pound visitor centre at the Victorian Town museum.

John Challen, project manager, said: "The loco was acquired by the museum in 1969 when it was first moved from Shut End in the West Midlands and displayed at Blists Hill Victorian Town.

"Since then it has also been on display at Horsehay and in more recent years at Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron.

"We are all delighted to see it move back to Blists Hill Victorian Town, where I am sure it will be much admired by all our visitors."

The move is part of the multi-million development which has seen the opening of new streets with a parade of shops, including a draper's, an outfitters, a Post Office, a photographer's and a sweetshop.

The first visitors enjoyed the opening of the first phase of the project at the start of the Easter holidays.