SHE'S beautiful. She's dark and sultry. She's 51 year old and she has not done a day's work since 1967.

But she will be coming out of retirement for a special task. The steam locomotive 35028 Clan Line will haul the exclusive Orient Express on a fundraising mission in aid of Naomi House children's hospice in Sutton Scotney, near Winchester.

But Clan Line will not even be taking the credit for her hard work. She will be masquerading as her scrapped sister engine 35002 Union Castle Line, because the trip has been donated by the relaunched shipping company in conjunction with its millennium cruise.

The locomotive was built at Eastleigh in 1948 and is owned by the 500 members of the Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society. Group spokesman Roger Cresswel, said: "She's beautiful, dark and the genuine article, one of the most powerful the Southern Region ever had. She represents the true history of the Southern Region."

He added that Clan Line was one of 30 locomotives of her type built and named after the shipping companies that used the Port of Southampton. Passengers on board the Naomi Belle, as the train has been dubbed, will be treated to a champagne reception and served a three-course dinner with wine in the luxurious surroundings. The train will leave Southampton's Eastern Docks at approximately 5.30pm and arrive at Waterloo, recreating the route the Orient Express took in the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s.

Travellers will return to Southampton around 10pm aboard specially-reserved carriages on a South West Trains service. Naomi House hopes to raise up to £30,000 from the trip on Saturday, December 11. Tickets cost £170 and are available by ringing 01962 843513. Early booking is recommended.

The Daily Echo has tickets available for two readers. Simply collect the tokens from the paper today and tomorrow and add them to the token and coupon printed yesterday. If you missed the coupon yesterday, another copy will be printed in tomorrow's Daily Echo.

Children help Naomi appeal - See page 17 of today's Daily Echo

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