Engines steam in for gala weekend.

A FAMOUS pair of steam locomotives which inspired the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine are to visit the North East for the first time.

The unique duo Alfred and Judy will star in what is billed as the largest steam event on Tyneside.

Famed throughout the world as the inspiration behind the Revd W Awdry's Bill and Ben, they will make the trip from their Cornish home to feature in the Tanfield Railways annual Legends of Industry steam gala weekend, on September 12 and 13.

They are instantly recognisable because of their small height, at just 7ft 6in around half that of a normal locomotive, necessary to work through a small tunnel at the Port of Par on the Cornish coast where the in 1954 to shunt the products of Cornish china clay pits to the docks for shipment.

Judy was retired in 1969 while Alfred carried on alone until 1977 before it too was replaced by a road tractor. Both were preserved and they have just returned to action as a pair for the first time since 1969.

Tanfield Railway operations manager Chris Walker said: "Alfred and Judy are really famous and I'm sure that they will be the stars of the show."

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