TRAIN enthusiasts will have a chance to get fired up this bank holiday weekend with a rare opportunity to see a steam locomotive in action on Okehampton track.

The project 62 'Yankee tank' will be Okehampton railway station on this Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 9.30am to 5.30pm — courtesy of the Dartmoor Railway.

It is a nostalgic return for locomotive number 30075, as she used to run the Meldon Quarry route in the 1960s and holds the honour of being the last operational steam locomotive on the GWR in Devon.

The locomotive, which was built in Croatia in 1960, is a regular on the Watercress Line (the Mid-Hants Railway).

The honour of driver and fireman goes to Okehampton men Gerald Smallacombe and Ian Maculloch, both 74, assisted by trainee fireman Ross Henrywood.

She has been operating all scheduled passenger services between Meldon / Okehampton / Sampford Courtenay since August 21.

Cllr David Weekes told the Times: 'It is brilliant to see a steam train in action; there are not many about and particularly as this one was the last one to operate on the Meldon Quarry line.'

The locomotive is at Okehampton station until September 7, when she is off to the Somerset and Dorset themed autumn gala on September 10.

It costs £194 a tonne of coke to fuel 30075 and Dartmoor Railway would be grateful for any sponsor to come forward — please call 01837 55164.