‘Nobody has done this before’: Britain’s beloved steam trains trial pioneering technology

In-cab digital signalling was tested last week as part of a project to secure the future of main-line locomotives

About 500 steam trains run across the UK each year, from Penzance in the south to Inverness in the north, ­transporting tens of thousands of passengers to a bygone age, ­bringing joy to the faces of enthusiasts and bemusing commuters.

But the future of main line steam operations could be under threat unless the traditional fire-breathing machines can be fitted with pioneering modern technology.