There was an occasion to savour for steam lovers in Swindon and Wiltshire as a world-record steam locomotive came through.

Sir Nigel Gresley is a member of the A4 class which was built by the London and North Eastern Railway in 1937 at Doncaster Works and was named after its designer.

Four engines of the class have been preserved including Mallard which holds the world record for being the fastest steam engine after reaching a top speed of 126 mph down Stoke Bank in 1938.

Incidentally, Sir Nigel Gresley holds the post-war steam record after maxing out at 112 mph in 1959, down the same bit of track.

The pacific has just returned to steam this year following an overhaul and was making a rare trip in the southern part of the UK.

On Monday, December 5, the steam locomotive was out hauling an excursion from London Victoria to Bath Spa taking passengers to the Christmas markets before making its way back to the capital.

On the outward leg, the train travelled via Westbury, Bradford-upon-Avon and Crofton, before returning via Swindon.

Many rail enthusiasts were out and about in Wiltshire trying to get the perfect shot of the locomotive as it came through doing a maximum speed of 75 mph.