RAIL fans are in for a rare treat with the latest mighty loco to go on show at the National Railway Museum in York.

Fresh from a transatlantic trek, the Dwight D Eisenhower is now on display to the public in the museum’s workshop.

Sister loco to Britain’s own record-breaking Mallard, it is now undergoing cosmetic restoration work by experts from Lancashire-based Heritage Painting and work is well underway.

The Doncaster-built Gresley Pacific is being given a fresh coat of BR green paint in preparation for 2013’s anniversary celebrations marking 75 years since Mallard broke the world speed record and became the fastest steam locomotive of all time.

The centrepiece of the celebrations will be a spectacular family reunion in July which will fulfil the dreams of rail fans across the globe.

All six of the surviving A4 locomotives in the world will be gathered together at the National Railway Museum - a sight never seen before.

Fellow transatlantic traveller Dominion of Canada is currently getting a Mallard-style makeover into characteristic garter blue at the National Railway Museum at Shildon.

Darlington-based M-Machine are transforming Eisenhower’s travelling companion in the museum workshop from the shabby green its carried since the sixties to streamlined blue glory.

NRM associate curator Bob Gwynne said: “Given Mallard’s status as the world’s fastest steam locomotive it was only fitting that its sister locomotives enjoy some time in the spotlight after their historic homecoming to UK soil for the first time in over half a century.

“We are hoping that visitors will visit our workshop balcony to watch Heritage Painting transform Dwight D Eisenhower back to its streamlined Brunswick green best.”

Dwight D Eisenhower and Dominion of Canada are on loan to the National Railway Museum for two years, from the National Railroad Museum in Wisconsin, USA, and Exporail, the Canadian National Railway Museum in Montreal.