STEAM legend Oliver Cromwell has returned to another old route at the head of a special train on the East Suffolk line.

STEAM legend Oliver Cromwell has returned to another old route at the head of a special train on the East Suffolk line.

The Easterling ran from Norwich to Lowestoft and then down the East Suffolk line through Saxmundham and Woodbridge to Ipswich before continuing to London Liverpool Street on Saturday.

It then returned to Norwich on the main line through Ipswich, Stowmarket and Diss.

Hundreds of people lined the route, eager to catch a glimpse of the magnificent loco.

This was the locomotive's first run on the East Suffolk line, once the main line from Yarmouth and Lowestoft to London, for more than 50 years.

The name of the train - The Easterling �- recaptured the golden days of the 1950s on the route when fast expresses stormed through Woodbridge and Saxmundham taking sun-seekers from London on holiday to Lowestoft or Great Yarmouth.

Although the East Suffolk line is now seen as a branch route, it was built to main-line standard enabling heavy trains like this to continue to use it.

Many people will be hoping that the success of this train will encourage the Railway Touring Company (RTC) to repeat the trip, giving more steam enthusiasts the chance to repeat this historic journey.

The special train was fully sold out by its promoters the RTC several weeks ago.

- Send us your pictures and video footage of the train - e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk or post to Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.