HOPES are running high that one of the most famous steam locos in the world could be on track for an emotional return to the main line later this year.

Members of the Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society are currently waiting for the return of the boiler of the legendary Lord Nelson from specialist repairers.

And after that it will be full steam ahead on the project to get the Lord Nelson back into full working order.

Number 850 - the sole survivor from the elite class of 16 locos built in Eastleigh between 1926 and 1929 - came back to its roots in 1997 after an absence of 30 years.

As part of the York-based National Railway Museum's collection, it was shipped home from Carnforth in Cumbria on a ten-year loan for full restoration by the local preservation society using a £69,700 lottery grant.

But the project hit a major setback when it was discovered that the loco's boiler was in a far worse condition than was first thought.

Preservation society chairman Councillor Godfrey Olson told the Daily Echo: "Luckily, we got another lottery grant to enable us to repair the boiler which is now with a boiler specialist down in Somerset.

"It has taken quite a bit longer than we anticipated because of its state and condition but the rest of the work on the tender and the frame of the loco is really up together. When we found out about the boiler we called the principal of the York museum down and he was absolutely amazed that the last time it steamed it hadn't exploded. It was in a very dangerous and advanced state of decay.''

Once repaired and returned to Eastleigh, it will take some months to refit the boiler back on to the loco but Cllr Olson said: "Directly we can put it on the frame everything else should be ready for steaming. It can be done and it will be done.''

The chairman said the initial ten-year lease had been extended to take account of the difficulties encountered in restoration and also confirmed that it was the society's ambition to get Lord Nelson back on to main line.

"During the time it is steaming we are hoping that it will earn money to pay for the restoration of 828, our own locomotive. 828's ticket has run out and it is standing idle at the moment in Swanage. We also want to get her back onto the main line.''