TRAIN enthusiasts captured a moment of history when a Spanish steam locomotive built in 1929 was unveiled at an open day following an epic 1,200-mile journey.

Almost 100 people visited Old Hall Farm in Bouth on Saturday to see the 15-inch gauge Krauss Pacific No.8457 locomotive, known by locals as the 'Train from Spain', finally on Cumbrian soil.

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Preservation Society (RERPS) has purchased the impressive machine and carefully transported the train from its former home in Mataró, near Barcelona, to the Lake District working farm where it will be restored.

Once the locomotive is brought up to specification, it will run on the La'al Ratty line at Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, where it will be one of the stand-out engines at the attraction and pull other trains.

Stuart Harrison, a council member of RERPS, said the open day was a huge success and gave people an idea of what to ultimately expect to see on the tracks.

He said: "Lots of people turned up to see it. We are really pleased it's finally here.

"In general it's in a very good working condition. There isn't another one or at least one that's completed anywhere else.

"The railway needs another locomotive."

The crimson train was built for the Ibero-American Exposition in Seville but has spent more than 80 years out of steam.

It was purchased by a group of restorers from Barcelona in 2002 but their project to install a new seaside railway line for it to operate on was unsuccessful.

The society is running a Train From Spain appeal to help raise the £126,000 needed to finish the restoration work that team started.

Mr Harrison, of Woodland, Broughton, said: "We are hoping we will be ready for full traffic early 2017.

"We had been looking at the society to build a new locomotive to run on the railway and it's the same price of what it would have been for a new build."