One of the best-known steam locomotives in Britain could soon be getting a new name – Ipswich Town could be hauling special trains across the rail network once the lockdown is finally over.
Mayflower is an LNER-designed B1 class locomotive owned by businessman David Buck who was born and brought up in Ipswich.
As a child in the 1950s he was a regular trainspotter on Ipswich railway station – and his love of railways is a passion that has stayed with him, as has his support for Ipswich Town. He used to be a regular at Portman Road and was at Wembley for the FA Cup and Play-off finals.
Mr Buck now lives near Windsor and bought Mayflower in 2014, putting it back on the main line the following year. Since then the locomotive has been overhauled and last year emerged as the flagship of the Steam Dreams railtour company which Mr Buck had bought in 2018.
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