THE National Railway Museum in York has welcomed its newest fireman to the team responsible for running its historic steam locomotives.

Laura Hester, 35, from York, says she was smitten by steam power when she was offered a ride on the footplate of one the museum’s trains as part of a staff team-building day.

Laura, who normally works as one of the NRM’s team of explainers, said: “It was much more fun than I expected. Then the head of opps said I was very good at it and offered me a chance to train up.”

Laura will now join the two other qualified female firemen at the NRM, and said she hopes to eventually become a driver.

“The next step would be learning to drive some of our diesel shunters then onto the steam trains,” she said.

“I must admit I was not into trains at all. I discovered driving a steam engine was a lot of fun.”