IT'S full steam ahead for the East Lancashire Railway who are on track to restore a rare locomotive after netting £78,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The money will be used to get the Leander back on the rails: the Jubilee class locomotive was introduced in 1934 and just four survive of 191 built.

The Leander has been in the hands of the ELR for the past five years and off the track for the past 12 years.

Dr Peter Beet, ELR volunteer worker said: "The grant is a dream come true. The Leander is a prestigious locomotive and an asset to the ELR."

The grant will fund repairs to the Leander boiler so that the locomotive will be restored to full working order.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.