HISTORIC locomotives are in motion today (Wednesday, February 5) ahead of their arrival in Shildon to mark the 75th anniversary of the Mallard setting the speed record for a steam engine.

The Mallard and the Union of South Africa are travelling from the National Railway Museum, in York, to appear in The Last Goodbye display in Shildon today.

Only six A4 class engines still exist and they will all arrive over the next two weeks at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum in Shildon.

The Northern Echo has agreed not to publish the exact times that the two locomotives will travel along the East Coast mainline between the museums for safety reasons.

The Last Goodbye exhibition runs between Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 23 with doors open between 9.30am and 5pm with free entry.