THE transatlantic sisters of a world famous locomotive went on show to the public yesterday at a former North East railway town.

Dominion of Canada and Dwight D Eisenhower are now on display at Locomotion, the National Railway Museum at Shildon in County Durham.

They are “class mates” of Mallard, the world’s fastest steam locomotive, which is based at the museum’s headquarters in York.

The Doncaster-built A4 class duo are on loan for two years to the National Railway Museum from the National Railroad Museum in Wisconsin in the United States and Exporail, the Canadian National Railway Museum in Montreal.

They have arrived in the UK to be part of next year’s 75th anniversary of Mallard breaking the world speed record.

The two locomotives are in the North East after a 2,527-mile Atlantic crossing which followed a transcontinental trek by rail across North America.

The pair travelled more than 150 miles by low-loader from the Port of Liverpool Seaforth docks to Shildon, where they will be on display until the end of the month.

Heavy haulage specialists Moveright International have overseen all aspects of the move across North America, from their removal from the museums, through to their historic homecoming.

All six survivors of this class of locomotive are now present in the UK, ready for a family reunion which will fulfil the dreams of rail fans across the world.

Steve Davies, director of the National Railway Museum, said: “When these mighty machines were exported across the Atlantic in the Sixties, no one thought they would ever come back. Now they are finally here at the spiritual home of the railways.”

Dr George Muirhead, museum manager at Shildon, said: “We are delighted to see both of these locomotives on display in Shildon. This is a truly historic international event, which we may not see again in our lifetime.”

On July 3, 1938, Mallard set the record of 126mph on the East Coast Main Line.