Steam train at Brighouse: Christmas White Rose in Yorkshire

The 'Christmas White Rose' was travelling through West Yorkshire as it returned from York to Telford.

As it burst under the road bridge, the bright glow from the steam locomotive's fire illuminated the steam swirling around the cab to create a dramatic flash of orange light.

The special excursion was hauled by West Country class 34046 Braunton, designed by Oliver Bulleid and built in Brighton in 1946.

Bringing up the rear of the train was diesel locomotive 47805, which is itself something of a veteran having been built in the 1960s.

A healthy number of enthusiasts turned out at stations along the route, including Brighouse, to watch the train at around 6.30pm.

The 11 coaches, with an engine at each end, had recently passed through Mirfield and the iconic Heaton Lodge Junction before announcing its arrival in Brighouse with a lenthy blast of its whistle that shattered the evening silence.

With the remaining steam still swirling around a rather atmospheric Brighouse station, the train was already working its way further into the Calder Valley, travelling via Elland, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden.

One onlooker, Jordan Bell, 22, said: "I've seen stream trains on heritage branch lines at 30mph, but to see one on the mainline travelling at the kind of speed they were designed for was something else.

"I'm obviously too young to remember the steam days, but some of the older guys on the platform said it made them feel quite nostalgic to see a steam engine at speed and at night.

"When it went under the second bridge at the station, there was a crazy flash of light. At first, you wondered if there was a problem with the fire in the cab, but I reckon it was just the reflection of the steam as all the steam got trapped under the bridge.

"Either way, it looked quite dramatic. The fact it whistled most of the way through the station shows that the driver was playing to the crowd and wanting to make it even more spectacular. Fair play to the lad. I'd probably do the same if I was in his position "

After passing Brighouse around five minutes behind schedule, the train made up time through Cheshire and Shropshire to arrive at Telford Central station seven minutes early.