A HISTORIC steam locomotive failed to complete what was due to be its final adventure journeying through East Anglia.

Hundreds of eager spectators gathered at Colchester Station on Thursday to witness the 70013 Oliver Cromwell steam engine up close.

During a 15 minute pit stop, visitors crowded on to the platform, jostling for a view of the engine.

Built in 1951, it is due to be retired from the mainline.

READ MORE: VIDEO: Oliver Cromwell train steams into Colchester 

For many, it was an unmissable chance to see a piece of railway history up close.

The Britannia Class British Railways locomotive was hauling a special train from Liverpool Street to Norwich carrying 350 passengers.

But as the engine steamed onwards towards Norwich, it suffered a mechanical failure which left it unable to carry out its return journey to London.

Marcus Robertson, founder of Steam Dreams, the company which organised the trip, said the fault had not dampened spirits.

He said the issue stemmed from a faulty bearing.

“Between Diss and Norwich we had realised something was wrong,” he said.

“When the bearing gets hot it causes an issue, we stopped examined it and once we were happy with it we carried on to Norwich at a pace of 20 miles per hour.

“Luckily we had a diesel engine on the back which could take the train back to London.”

It wasn’t all bad news, for some trainspotters the sight of the diesel engine in action was something to be savoured.

“The diesel engine in itself was quite interesting as it is 60-years-old,” added Mr Robertson.

“There were a few people who heard the steam engine had failed and travelled up from London just to see the diesel engine.”

Mr Robertson said he hoped to see the historic train back on the rails at some point in the future.

The engine’s boiler certificate expires next month and there is yet to be a decision on whether locomotive, which is owned by the National Railway Museum, will be overhauled to return to the line.

It will possibly be kept as a static exhibit at one of the museum’s sites.

The locomotive spent most of its life working the London to Norwich Express services.

After years as a static exhibit in Bressingham, it was overhauled and returned to steam in 2008.