Resplendent after a cosmetic restoration, the Steam Railway’s original locomotive looks at good as new.

No.1 Sutherland was hauled to Port Erin last week ahead of her taking pride of place - for a second time in its history - in the railway museum there next year.

In the meantime she will be stored over the winter in the carriage shed.

Built for the opening of the railway on July 1873, No.1 hauled the first official train to Peel. She remained in service until 1964.

She became the centrepiece of Port Erin railway museum when it opened in 1975 but returned to steam with a boiler loaned from another loco for the Steam 125 celebrations in 1998.

No. 1 was then stored undercover at Douglas until work began earlier this year on cosmetically restoring her for display.

Isle of Man Steam Railways Supporters’ Association chairman Bill Cubbon said: ’It has long been our view that the railway’s first locomotive should be reassembled for display purposes.

’The railway arranged for the water tanks to be overhauled off-island and the larger items, including the cabs and boiler, reunited with the frames.

’Some of the work has been carried out by Supporters’ Association volunteer and retired railway employee Jeffrey Kelly, and George Quayle.

’The railway has had the locomotive completely repainted and expertly lined out by Alan Hardaker.’

The railway is in possession of two other withdrawn locomotives, No.5 Mona and No.9 Douglas, currently stored in the depot at Douglas.

The Supporters’ group is keen for these to be cosmetically restored, too, so they can be put on display but there is a cost involved in dealing with the issue of asbestos lagging.