PRINCE Charles donned workmen's overalls to ride the footplate of a steam locomotive on a visit to the North yesterday.
Charles abandoned the comfort of the Royal Train carriage for part of his trip around Yorkshire and Cumbria.
He climbed on the footplate of the Duchess of Sutherland locomotive at Kirkby Stephen station, in Cumbria.
He wore the traditional steam engineman's cap and blue overalls while he made the 15-minute run to Appleby along the Settle and Carlisle line.
It is only the second time in more than 40 years that the Royal train has been pulled by a steam locomotive. Charles said: ''I cannot tell you what a pleasure it is for me. It really takes me back to my childhood."
He met the train's driver and crew and chatted as they showed him how the vintage locomotive worked. Charles began his day with a visit to Clapham, North Yorkshire, and saw a number of projects in the village supported by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, of which he is patron.
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