HISTORY will be made next week when an unusual railway partnership not seen for 40 years is celebrated in Weymouth.

A steam train visiting from London is set to be banked' towards Dorch-ester on its return journey, recreating scenes of yesteryear.

Up until the summer of 1967 when diesel took over from steam, trains leaving Weymouth over a certain weight used to get a helping hand for about four miles by a second locomotive that pushed, or banked it, up the 1 in 50 gradient.

Past Time Rail, a charter train promoter based in Staffordshire, is running the Royal Wessex tour on Friday, July 6, to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of steam in Southern England.

The company has billed it as 'one of the most spectacular steam hauled rail tours of modern times' with ex Southern Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 No. 34067 'Tangmere' in charge of the 10 carriages and ex BR Standard 2-6-0 No. 76079 bringing up the rear.

Dorset transport historian Brian Jackson said: "This used to be a regular event but it's not been done since the end of steam in 1967.

"Up trains over a certain tonnage would wait near Alexandra Bridge and a loco would come out of the yard and push it to the other side of Bincombe Tunnel where the signal box used to be. The banker engine would then return to Weymouth when there was a gap in the traffic.

"It wasn't a unique operation on the network but Weymouth was unusual because it was a dead start. There's a long slog of about four miles up a steep gradient and that's why the bankers were used.

"To see it recreated 40 years on will be something quite special."

Royal Wessex passengers will be able to enjoy a few hours in Weymouth and they may be lucky enough to witness a train naming ceremony.

'Destination Weymouth' will be unveiled on a South West Trains' Class 444 unit in an event at the station.

Meanwhile, the Royal Wessex banker engine No. 76079 will be among the locomotives appearing at a Swanage Railway end of steam gala between July 7 and July 9.

Weymouth will welcome back another steam engine on July 9 when Tangmere takes charge of an excursion from London organised by Steam Dreams.