A POPULAR museum was packed out as it welcomed visitors to a series of locomotive fun days.

The East Anglian Railway Museum saw railways fans flood through the gates as it hosted its popular Diesel Day events.

Being held throughout the week visitors took to the railways as the sun shone over the museum which is based at Chappel and Wakes Colne Railway Station.

The event is a family attraction with visitors able to witness dozens of diesel powered trains which have been lovingly restored by the museum volunteers.

Visitors were also able to take a ride on the trains, including a miniature railway.

The star of the show was the museum’s rare diesel railbus E79963.

The railbus was built in 1958 by Waggon und Maschinenbau and returned to service last year.

Museum bosses first got their hands on the locomotive, which was once used on branch lines in Essex and Suffolk, back in 2012 before restoring it.

East Anglian Railway Museum chairman Peter Martin was over the moon as the museum looks to recover from the pandemic.

He said: “We’re busy at the moment and it looks like it’ll be a sell out this weekend for our Thomas event.

“Our emphasis at the moment is on post-Covid recovery and everything is going well as far as visitors are concerned.

“This has proven to be a bumper week for us and we’re making a positive recovery.”

“We cover everything to do with railway history and there is always something here people will associate with.

“It was well populated and most bookings are now on the door or online.

“We’re also making numerous enhancements to the museum facilities and looking to futureproof the museum with new exhibits and facilities.”