New steam locomotive for the Bluebell Railway

Modern technology and traditional methods were combined to build the locomotive

A new steam locomotive has been launched in Sussex.

The Bluebell Railway has welcomed the LB&SCR Marsh Brighton Atlantic 32424 locomotive - named ‘Beachy Head’ - that has been more than two decades in the making.

It will be in service until 1 September along the line from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead.

The heritage railway, sitting along the East and West Sussex border, said it wanted to "revive a part of railway history which many thought had been lost forever".

Project manager Keith Sturt told the BBC he was "over the moon" to see the locomotive in action.

"[It] was a very long-term job and it's [the locomotive] had to go through a very extensive testing procedure, but it got through," he said

Mr Sturt said he was "very excited" by the launch

The last 32424 Beachy Head was withdrawn from service in April 1958.

It was built at Brighton Works before the First World War and entered service with what was then called the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.

"The locomotive should have been preserved," said Mr Sturt.

"There was a group trying to preserve the locomotive, but it was cut up before they could raise enough money."

The locomotive became redundant in the 1950s and was "cut up", said Mr Sturt.

The Bluebell Railway first decided to construct a replica of the locomotive in 2000, and the project took 24 years to complete.

It said in a statement that it had involved "painstaking research" and "sourcing original plans".

Volunteers, enthusiasts, engineers, fundraisers and supporters worked together on the project.