A HISTORIC steam train will roll into town this weekend after being brought back to life.

The British Rail Standard Class 4 locomotive - known by its serial number 80097 - is set to delight visitors at the East Lancashire Railway’s Bury Bolton Street Station.

The train was first built in 1954 in Brighton as part of a group of 155 locomotives, but was taken out of service in 1965 as engineers began the switch from steam to diesel power.

However, for the past 33 years, over 200 volunteers have meticulously worked to bring the 80097 - one of just 15 surviving Class 4s - back into service.

Now, rail enthusiasts will be able to see the train in action and even board it as part of the upcoming Steam Spring Gala, which runs from March 8-10 at Bolton Street Station.

On Saturday, a group of representatives from the restoration team, along with East Lancashire Railway chairman Mike Kelly, watched the restored train make history as it rolled back into service for the first time in more than half a century.

Among the onlookers was Keith Savory, a founder member of Bury Standard 4 Group, who was one of a team of people who visited a scrapyard on Barry Island in Wales to save the 80097, bringing her back to Bury in May 1985.

He was joined by Allan Schofield, the group’s Chief Mechanical Engineer, who is one of several people to fulfil his role over the 33 years it has taken to repair the locomotive.

The Steam Spring Gala begins at 10am and runs until 4pm from March 8-10.

The booking office, gift shop and buffet at Bolton Street Station will be open during the day and the Trackside Bar will also be open from noon– midnight on Friday, 10:30am–midnight on Saturday and 10:30am–11pm on Sunday.

Tickets for the Steam Spring Gala can be purchased from the station’s ticket or with a 10 percent discount from www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk.