A ‘Foxy’ visitor is attracting admiring glances at the Kent and East Sussex Railway (K&ESR).

The sleek, black, 7822 Foxcote Manor, affectionately known as ‘Foxy’ is the largest locomotive to have visited the railway and volunteers have clubbed together to bring the engine to Tenterden from the Llangollen Railway in Wales.

K&ESR’s guest engine club was set up 18 months ago to enrich to the railway’s fleet.

Operations assistant Andy Hardy has driven the 140-tonne locomotive and said: “Foxcote Manor is wonderful to drive and steams very freely.”

Built in 1950, Foxcote Manor is the railway’s first guest engine of the month and will run throughout May, having been brought to the railway in partnership with the Foxcote Manor Society.

Designed by Charles Collett, of the Great Western Railway, Foxcote Manor was built by British Railways at Swindon Works and will feature at a ‘Made in Swindon’ event at K&ESR, showcasing engines constructed in the town over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

The engine had a 15-year working life, including on the Cambrian Coast Express and hauling the royal train in 1963.

Foxcote Manor services include pensioner specials.

For more details visit www.kesr.org.uk/7822