BRITAIN’S biggest celebration of the rail industry is coming to the region next summer.

Railfest 2012 will be hosted by the National Railway Museum in York and will cover a space the size of 11 football pitches.

It will feature an awe-inspiring line up of locomotives from the museum's collection and visiting locomotives from across the UK.

There will also be a wide variety of railway-related activities, attractions, sights and sounds and the opportunity to get up close to the exhibits.

The festival, from June 2 to 10, will bring together more than 30 record-breaking locos that have made their mark on rail history for being the fastest, largest, strongest, first, last and oldest.

Among the confirmed attendees is the holder of the record for the fastest steam locomotive at 126mph, Mallard; the newest mainline steam locomotive in operation, Tornado; and the most powerful industrial steam locomotive built for use in the UK, Mardy Monster.

The first locomotive to reach 100mph, Flying Scotsman, is also set to attend the event following the completion of its restoration.

Museum director Steve Davies said; “Our previous Railfest in 2004 celebrated the bicentenary of Britain's railways and proved to be a huge success by attracting over 60,000 visitors.

“Next year we hope to top this by providing an even bigger and better event.”

For the latest updates and announcements, visit nrm.org.uk/railfest2012