Cornwall's only steam railway now has an 111-year-old train trundling along its tracks.

The London & South Western Railway T9 4-4-0 locomotive no. 30120 is on loan from the National Railway Museum – and will be making its public debut on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway.

The tender engine, which has been completely restored, will now stay at the railway for at least the next 10 years.

It's one of a unique quartet of vintage steam engines running at the railway – the youngest of which dates from 1905.

General manager Richard Jones said: "It's a very olde-worlde looking engine, it certainly looks its age!

"It was built for the London and South Western Railway in 1899 and was withdrawn from service in the early sixties.

"It has been at the museum in York and is the only one of its type preserved, so it is unique. It was restored after being out of steam for around 20 years by the Bodmin and Wenford Railway Trust, who paid for it to be overhauled at an excess of a quarter of a million pounds.

"It was formally re-entered into service on Thursday – everyone is very excited to have it here!"

The engine's appearance is the highlight of the railway's Annual Steam Gala this weekend. The Bodmin and Wenford Railway was first established at the height of the industrial revolution in 1834.

The arrival of the new engine coincides with a new patron for the railway.

Lady Molesworth-St Aubyn of Pencarrow House has accepted patronage of the BRPS – the volunteer arm of Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway.

Mr James said: "Lady Molesworth and her family have long been supporters of the railway."

All those who work on the railway as drivers, firemen, guards, engineers, signallers, workshop staff, track gang, station and buffet staff are volunteers.

Lady Molesworth formally accepted the patronage at Bodmin General Station yesterdat from BRPS chairman Wilf Wilson. John Burden, a society member and volunteer, also launched a new book – The Arrival, Departure And Return Of The Bodmin And Wadebridge Railway.