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Video: Oliver Cromwell travels through Norfolk on historic visit

Thousands of spectators lined the streets and rooftops of Sheringham this afternoon to watch Oliver Cromwell become the first steam engine to travel across the town's level crossing in 46 years.

The 70013 engine was greeted by gasps as it hauled five carriages slowly across the tramway-style crossing on Station Road.

Pop mogul and railway enthusiast Pete Waterman led cheers following the historic event, which marks the culmination of a £140,000 project to connect Sheringham's heritage Poppy Line with National Rail's Bittern Line.

He said: “Amazing is what it is. The original founding fathers of the Midland and Great Northern Railway could not have dreamed in 2010 we would be joining it back to the network.”

Earlier today, the restored Britannia class train pulled into Norwich station to the delight of waiting crowds of train enthusiasts.

Richard Huggins, 55, travelled up from Ingatestone in Essex after remembering how he saw the fellow “Britannia” class train Owen Glendower at Trowse when he was seven.

He said: “It links the North Norfolk railway with the main system and means there can now be a direct link to Holt from London.

The Oliver Cromwell arriving in Norwich

“I think it will be good for the town and for the area. A lot of people do travel on these trains and this one was a sell-out.”

Chris Barclay, 64, from East Walton, near King's Lynn, said: “There's still nothing quite like the sight, sound and smell of a steam train.”

Oliver Cromwell hauled British Rail's very last steam train on August 11, 1968. The restored engine now hauls enthusiasts' trains.

For full coverage and pictures of the train's journey see tomorrow's paper.