AN extremely rare sight these days, Chepstow train station welcomed the "Mayflower", one of only two surviving B1 Class steam locomotives in the country.

The train was built in 1948 as part of a mixed use class, able to pull both passenger and fright trains.

Used all over Britain's rail network, engines like the Mayflower would have been regular visitors to Chepstow sixty years or so ago.

Ordered by the North British Locomotive Company, the engine was completed and delivered to British Railways after the network was nationalised and mainly was in service in the north east of England.

The final trip was pulling the "Yorkshire Pullman" in 1967, before being retired.

Kept by a family in top condition from 1978, the "Mayflower" is now run by Steam Dreams, which saw the train run from London to Gloucester and then on to Cardiff via Chepstow on St David's Day.

Chepstow photographer Paul Johnson snapped the impressive steam train as it passed through Chepstow train station on Sunday evening (1st March).

Photo courtesy of www.

pixelsintime.co.uk