By Victoria Brenan

Last updated 05:37, Friday, 25 July 2008

A SEVEN-FOOT-LONG replica of a ‘City of Carlisle’ steam locomotive will go on display in Tullie House Museum tomorrow.

The model – which is in full London, Midland & Scottish Railway colours – goes on show in the museum’s main reception area until October 16 and has been loaned to the museum by Wrexham railway enthusiast David Wilson.

The full-size locomotive was built in 1939 at Crewe and during its service travelled 1.5 million miles on the main line between London and Scotland. It was taken out of service in 1964.

One of the nameplates from the original locomotive and a 10-foot long fire-iron, as used to stoke the boilers of steam engines like the City of Carlisle, will also go on show alongside the replica locomotive.

The fire-iron illustrates how much hard work was needed from the locomotive drivers of the 1930s and 40s to keep the fire stoked and the engine going.

Tullie House’s keeper of social history, Edwin Rutherford, said: “This is a nostalgic reminder of the age of steam.

“We would love to hear from anyone with family connections or memories of drivers or fireman who were crew on the City of Carlisle.”