ONE of the most famous steam engines in the country stormed along the estuary through Lydney and Chepstow last weekend, thrilling the crowds who'd gathered to watch it pass.

The A4 Pacific Bittern, a sister locomotive to the record-breaking Mallard, was on a London to Cardiff return trip via Gloucester. Built at the LNER works in Doncaster at the end of 1937, the Bittern became one of a 'flock' of A4's named after birds. Initially based in Newcastle, the Bittern did the North East to London run, often hauling the Flying Scotsman train from London's Kings Cross station.

After the war, the Bittern served on the London to Edinburgh line until being replaced by diesel engines and stored in Scotland. It pulled its final service in September 1966, becoming the last A4 in action alongside sister train, the Kingfisher.

After several aborted restorations, and a name change to "Silver Link" the The Bittern now lives at the Mid-Hampshire Railway, or Watercress Line.