IT was named after the Lord Rosebury-owned Derby winner of 1939 - but the locomotive Blue Peter hardly showed the same pace as its equine namesake as it was hauled in to Darlington.

The locomotive was at the centre of a massive operation, several weeks in the making, and one which required military-style planning and precision to succeed.

For those who wanted to witness a glorious piece of railway history - and one of the true giants of the golden age of steam - begin its journey to Darlington, it was an early morning start.

Camera crews and photographers made their way to Newbridge Yard, Pickering, amid the splendour of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, for 8am to see the big Blue Peter move.

Rail experts, presenters of the TV show of the same name and the curious watched.

The staggering logistics of the move meant efforts to winch the locomotive on to low-loaders got under way late in the day.

Haulage experts from GCS Johnson, the Barton-based firm, lined up the low-loaders to carefully manoeuvre the tender and engine from the track.

Once in place, and with the aid of a police escort, the journey began along a pre-planned route, which avoided narrow roads and low or weak bridges.

From Pickering, the slow-moving cargo headed for Malton, then after that came the complexities of the York ring road, before joining the A1.

Drivers looked in amazement at the mammoth load, before it turned off to begin the most critical phase of the operation - the journey into Darlington.

With the tender in storage at Barton Lorry Park, the engine was pulled into Darlington, where it moved slowly through the town centre before heading for the North Road railway museum.

But the difficult journey was appreciated by rail enthusiasts who are turning out in their crowds to see the Blue Peter.

There will be a full programme of events on Easter Sunday and Monday, including face-painting, story-telling and a chance to see some favourite exhibits.

Further information is available from the museum on (01325) 460532.