Army and rail dignitaries will join museum staff at the presentation of the third nameplate cast for the Royal Norfolk Regiment steam locomotive, which runs on the North Norfolk Railway (NNR).

Norwich Evening News: Steam loco 90775 leaves NNR at Sheringham, after being named The Royal Norfolk regiment, last September. Picture: David BaleSteam loco 90775 leaves NNR at Sheringham, after being named The Royal Norfolk regiment, last September. Picture: David Bale (Image: Archant)

The locomotive 90775 was named by Brigadier James Woodham with full military honours last September.

It was the first mainline steam, diesel or electric locomotive to bear the highly appropriate name and honoured generations of soldiers who served in the Norfolks.

The third nameplate, cast at the same time as the two which now adorn the 20 metres long and 133 tons locomotive, will be presented to the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum, housed at Norwich Castle, by the locomotive's owner, the Midland and Great Northern (M&GN) Society.

It will take place at Weybourne station on the NNR between 12.45 and 1pm on Thursday, March 15.

A special train, conveying guests in the comfort of the GW directors' saloon, will depart from Sheringham for Holt at 12pm, where it will reverse to return with a stop at Weybourne for the presentation.

The party will comprise Brigadier Max Marriner, county colonel of the Royal Anglians, museum curator, Kate Thaxton, Dicky Bird, who volunteers at the museum, Hugh Harkett, managing director of NNR, Andrew Munden, general manager of NNR, Neil Sharpe, chairman of the M&GN Society and Peter Mayne, M&GN trustee and media officer.

The plate, which is 1.5 metres long and made of solid brass, is topped with the regimental crest of the Norfolks, Britannia.

It has been mounted on a display board which records the naming of the locomotive in September, tells something of the life of the locomotive and shows where it can be seen in action on the NNR.

Mr Sharpe said: 'We feel this will be of great interest to the many old soldiers and their families visiting the museum and will embody the links between the regiment, the county and the railway. 90775 is the only locomotive ever to carry this historic name and we feel sure that it will now have a special place in the hearts of those associated with the regiment.'