After nearly two years of work and 6,000 volunteer hours, the Martello engine will soon make a welcome return to action at Bressingham Steam Museum.

Eastern Daily Press: the newly restored Martello engine which is almost finished and will be on display at Bressingham Steam Museum soon.the newly restored Martello engine which is almost finished and will be on display at Bressingham Steam Museum soon. (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2016)

The veteran suburban tank engine, which was built in 1875, had an active career but had to retire in 2010 due to a number of problems with its boiler.

A restoration project was started in December 2014 by a team of dedicated museum volunteers and now features a Southern Railway 'Maunsell Green' livery, which it would have had when in service during the 1920s.

Phillip Rooke, from the museum, said: 'We are immensely proud of the achievements of our volunteers.

'It is great to see standard gauge steam return to Bressingham - the museum has not been able to demonstrate standard gauge steam since 2012.'

The Martello moved under its own steam for the first time in six years at the start of this month.

It will be in steam for testing on Sunday for visitors to see it moving up and down the standard gauge railway.

In the future the museum will be able to take passengers behind Martello in an LMS Brake Van which is currently in the latter stages of restoration.

Apart from Mondays and Tuesdays outside of School holidays, Bressingham operates steam every day from 10.30am until November,