ROYALTY has made the National Railway Museum its home after rail chiefs handed over a special locomotive for the York collection.

The freight train operator English, Welsh and Scottish Railways (EWS), which runs the Royal Train, has given one of its former royal locomotives to the Leeman Road museum.

The class 47 locomotive Prince William was presented to Andrew Scott, head of the NRM, by EWS engineering director Stuart Boner in a ceremony at RailFest yesterday.

Dedicated to royal train duties for more than ten years, the Prince William entered service in 1965.

Carrying the livery of royal claret, it travelled the length and breadth of the UK carrying members of the Royal Family to official functions. It has now been replaced by one of EWS's new 125mph class 67 locomotives.

Mr Scott said: "We're delighted to be receiving Prince William into the National collection. It is a marvellous example of the class 47 locomotives which were the largest ever class of mainline diesel locomotive built for the UK rail network and were used on all sorts of trains from express passenger to freight.

"Visitors will now be able to view it alongside its fellow icons and gain insight into its individual significance."

Mr Boner said: "EWS is really pleased to be handing this historic locomotive to the National Railway Museum where it will be displayed for future generations to see along with some of the most famous locomotives in the world like Mallard and Flying Scotsman.

"The locomotive has served the railways and the Royal Family well for almost 40 years now and can now enjoy a well-earned retirement."

Updated: 09:50 Saturday, June 05, 2004