A BIG crowd turned out to welcome ‘Black Five’ when it steamed into Haslemere station for a pit-stop en route to Portsmouth and Salisbury, on Saturday morning.

The 45212, a London Midland and Scottish Railway ‘Black Five’, was designed by William Stainier and built in 1935.

It was among the last steam locomotives withdrawn by British Railways in 1968. There was a second chance to admire the steam-hauled Cathedrals Express when it stopped for water on the way back.

Haslemere Community Rail Partnership (HCRP) volunteer David Goddin, who took our photos, said: “Haslemere town councillors and other HCRP members took time out from weeding the station flower beds and manning the information hub in the forecourt to join many other local people who greeted Black Five when it stopped for water on Saturday morning.

“It was a rare treat to see a preserved steam locomotive.”