Steam fans were thrilled today by the sight of a vintage steam train be passing through Herefordshire.

The Welsh Marches Express was pulled by the 7029 Clun Castle locomotive.

It started its journey at Tyseley Locomotive Works, near Birmingham.

Hereford Times: The Clun Castle steam loco at Hereford. Picture: Karen PriceThe Clun Castle steam loco at Hereford. Picture: Karen Price

It then stopped at Birmingham New Street to pick up passengers, passing Wolverhampton and on to Shrewsbury, where it joined the Marches line.

The Clun Castle was built in Swindon in May 1950 by Great Western Railway and was named after the fortress in the south Shropshire border town.

Hereford Times: Onlookers admire the steam loco Clun Castle on the platform at Hereford railway station. Picture: Karen PriceOnlookers admire the steam loco Clun Castle on the platform at Hereford railway station. Picture: Karen Price

Clun Castle was the last steam engine to haul a train from the original Birmingham Moor Street station before it closed, making way for the ‘new’ Moor Street station situated on the through lines to Snow Hill.

As it made its way through Shropshire, it passed through Craven Arms, Ludlow and Wooferton.

It then steamed through Leominster and Moreton-on-Lugg en route to Hereford, where arrived shortly after 11am.

Hereford Times: The steam loco Clun Castle at Pontrilas. Picture: Rob PayneThe steam loco Clun Castle at Pontrilas. Picture: Rob Payne

The train stopped in Hereford until 1.30pm to give its passengers some sightseeing time in the city, before powering on to Bristol, via Newport and the Severn Tunnel.

Its return journey was via the Great Western main line to Oxford before Birmingham via Hatton Bank.

Hereford Times: The steam loco Clun Castle in Hereford. Picture: Belinda OlsenThe steam loco Clun Castle in Hereford. Picture: Belinda Olsen

Hereford Times: The classic loco Clun Castle steams out of Hereford station. Picture: Malcolm HinceThe classic loco Clun Castle steams out of Hereford station. Picture: Malcolm Hince

Hereford Times: The classic loco Clun Castle steams past allotments. Picture: James RippardThe classic loco Clun Castle steams past allotments. Picture: James Rippard