After an absence of nearly 15 years, one of the island’s best-known steam locomotives looks set to return to service in the coming months.

The Number 11 engine Maitland last saw service in 2007, but returned to the island last week after the completion of its restoration.

Named after former Speaker of the House of Keys Dalrymple Maitland, the engine that was originally built in 1905 initially received a new boiler from the Severn Valley Railway.

Its frames were then moved off site for restoration by Alan Keef in 2017.

The loco was then moved to the Statfold Barn Railway in Staffordshire for reassembly and painting in 2020 before returning to Manx shores on Thursday.

The Maitland will now undertake trials before re-entering service.

The new steam railway season commences on Friday, March 4.