DOZENS of railway enthusiasts turned out on Wednesday to welcome the first locomotive to arrive at the new £11m museum in Shildon.

The North-Eastern Railway 0-8-0 steam locomotive No 901 became the first engine to take its position in the collections centre at Locomotion: the National Railway Museum at Shildon.

The T3 class locomotive was built in 1919 and was the most powerful engine built at the North Eastern Railway's Darlington works.

Among the guests to see it arrive were Anthony Coulls, collections care manager at the museum, and Leslie and Edith Dunn from local haulage company Dunns Shildon, which was set up 80 years ago in what is now the museum's parcel shed.

The family operated company has allowed the museum's construction team many months of access through their yard in order for the collections centre to be built.

Mr and Mrs Dunn, both aged 80, were invited to the event in recognition of the family's contribution.

Mr Dunn said: "It has been a great privilege for Edith and I to see the first vehicle arrive at Locomotion. The Dunn family has a long personal connection with the railways so when the museum requested our help, we were more than happy to oblige."

Mr Coulls said: "The Dunn family have been invaluable in helping us create what will be a wonderful new railway museum and we hope that their association with it will long continue.

"Today has been a great day for the museum and the No 901 is an impressive steam engine befitting the occasion.

" It is a fine example and one of a range of significant historic locomotives and railway vehicles that will be on display at Locomotion in the future."

The museum will receive about one engine a week from now until it opens in September.