Steam locomotive returns to the rails after more than 2 decades of restoration. Photos: Instagram @scottishtrains

A 74-year-old steam locomotive is back in service thanks to the efforts of a train enthusiast and a group of volunteers who spent more than two decades restoring the engine and putting it back on track.

Ian Fraser, a former railway engineer for the London North Eastern Railway, bought the locomotive after meeting one of the former drivers and, as trains are one of his passions, he thought it would be an interesting job to do when he retired.

Train No. 46464, affectionately known as the “Carmyllie Pilot”, spent most of its working life carrying passengers between the Scottish towns of Angus and Fife, a journey taking approximately 90 minutes, and was withdrawn from service in 1966.

After Fraser purchased the locomotive, he loaned it to museums, and in 1978, the Carmyllie Pilot operated on a heritage railway until a problem took it out of service and it was returned to its owner.

Fraser died in 1992, but a group of volunteers took over the restoration in 2000 and have worked to get the locomotive back in working order for the past 24 years. Last month, in Aviemore, in the Highlands, the train finally returned to the tracks for the first time in 44 years.

Iain Smith, one of those involved in the restoration, told the BBC: “It was really exciting to see it working again. “We have achieved what we set out to do 24 years ago.”

Photos: Instagram @scottishtrains. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.