Classic locomotives will be steaming into Dorset for a heritage railway’s autumn gala.

The Swanage Railway is welcoming some striking heavy metal – including a classic 1930s express steam locomotive.

At least six steam locos will be in action, including three visiting locomotives – 1938 London Midland and Scottish Railway No. 6233 ‘Duchess of Sutherland’, 1945 London Midland and Scottish Railway Stanier ‘Black 5’ No. 44871 and 1954 British Railways Class 4 Tank No. 80078.

The Princess Coronation class locomotive ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ has been a regular performer on the main line up and down the country. Repainted in its original 1930s crimson livery by its owners, the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust, its visit to Dorset comes after a major £130,000 overhaul.

Designed by William Stanier, it was built at the London Midland and Scottish Railway’s locomotive works in Crewe in 1938 for hauling express trains between London and Glasgow and to Liverpool.

Withdrawn in 1964, it was sold to a Butlin’s holiday camp in Scotland before moving to a railway museum in Norfolk and then to the Midland Railway Centre in Derbyshire.

After restoration to full working order, it returned to the rails in 2001 – thanks to financial help from the Heritage Lottery Fund – and hauled excursion trains on the main line after being fitted with main line signalling and safety equipment. It hauled the Royal Train in 2002 and 2005.

‘Black 5’ No. 44871 made history 50 years ago when it helped to haul the famous ‘Fifteen Guinea Special’ between Carlisle and Manchester in August, 1968 – the last steam-hauled passenger train run by British Rail – with tickets costing 15 guineas.

Built at Brighton in 1954 for the busy Essex coast to north London commuter line – and now based in Essex – former British Railways Class 4 tank steam locomotive No. 80078 will be hauling trains on the Swanage Railway for the first time since 2010.

At the gala, steam trains will be running the five and a half miles between Swanage, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden.

Swanage Railway Company executive chairman Trevor Parsons said: “There will be an exciting and varied timetable, four nostalgic freight trains running each day, some passenger trains running on our four-mile extension from Norden to the River Frome, within sight of Wareham, as well as evening dining trains on the Friday and Saturday.”

Swanage Railway’s Autumn Steam Gala runs from Friday, October 12 to Sunday, October 14. Visit swanagerailway.co.uk for tickets and more information.