The A4 pacific wrote a new chapter in time as it steamed into the town on Saturday with a joyous reception awaiting it on the platform.

The locomotive, regarded as one of the most elegant engines to grace Britain's railways, made the journey on both Saturday and Sunday via the Esk Valley Railway from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway at Pickering.

There was a celebratory spirit among the people of all ages who turned out to watch this once-in-a-lifetime event.

The crowds could not get enough of Sir Nigel Gresley, sister engine of the Mallard, the worlds fastest steam engine, as it steamed into town to highlight the timetable of steam trains to and from Whitby, with 540 return services being run this summer.

Built in 1937, Sir Nigel Gresley was the 100th Gresley Pacific to be built by the London and North Eastern Railway and was named in honour of her designer.

The locomotive, which was given the British Railways number 60007, was saved from being scrapped in 1966.

Since Sir Nigel Gresley returned to traffic in August 2006 it has run over 12,000 miles on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

Phil Bustard marketing and external affairs manager for NYMR said: "I was in Whitby on the Sunday and it went very well. There were lots of people waiting for the train to come in. I came in on the 11am train and it was standing room only.

"It was great for us and great for the town."