Passengers and enthusiasts alike were full of praise as an historic steam train visited Weymouth yesterday as part of a nationwide tour.

Swanage Railway’s ‘U’ class steam locomotive No. 31806 led a ten-carriage excursion, the Dorset portion of a round-Britain train from Yeovil to Dorchester and Weymouth. Another loco, No. 45212 which was on the other end, hauled the train back up the line to Dorchester and towards Swanage.

The spectacle drew many onlookers, young and old, keen to see a part of our railway heritage.

Locomotives of the same class as No. 31806 used to haul trains on the Weymouth to Bournemouth line from the 1920s to the 1960s.

"It looks fantastic," said Geoff Brockett, a passenger taking photos of the train at Weymouth station.

He explained to the Echo that this was his first multi-destination voyage on a steam train.

"In the past, I've normally only done day trips," said Mr Brockett, who also came to Weymouth when the train visited last year.

"It's a really nice thing," he said of the nostalgic voyage, adding that he had been interested in railways since he was at school.

Steve Hutchins, travelling with his partner Jane Jarvis as a birthday trip for the latter, explained that similarly, it was their first trip on this particular train, but not their first ever on a steam train.

"It's something to look back on fondly," he noted, adding that the couple were looking forward to visiting Swanage the next day before they returned to their home in Berkshire.

Weymouth residents Duncan Clarke and Matthew Penwell, meanwhile, had come along to see the train as it waited at the station.

"I like the nostalgic value," said Mr Clarke. "I'm not a massive steam buff, but when it comes it's nice to see."

"It looks good," his friend Mr Penwell agreed. "It's great for Weymouth to have something like this visit."

The Railway Touring Company organised the nine-day Great Britain XI steam train around England, Scotland and Wales from April 19-27 starting and finishing in London.

So it could haul trains on the main line No. 31806 was upgraded thanks to a £75,000 Government grant to the Swanage Railway Trust.

It hauled a test train through Dorset earlier this month before its run on the main line yesterday.