AS PART of their 50th anniversary celebrations, soldiers from Tidworth-based First Fusiliers joined their comrades from Fifth Fusiliers at Kings Cross station last week.

They were there to provide a Guard of Honour to unveil a newly named Virgin Trains Class 91 locomotive The Fusiliers to mark its 50 year anniversary.

The colonel of the regiment, Major General Paul Nanson had the honour of officially naming the train along with David Horne, Virgin Trains’ managing director for the east coast route.

Serving fusiliers and veterans were welcomed on board before it made its journey north to Newcastle for the official welcoming ceremony.

Unveiling the train, General Nanson said that he hoped that this would be the start of a new relationship with Virgin Trains. He said: “We are celebrating 50 years of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 2018 and also the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One where some 35,000 railway workers enlisted and fought in that conflict.”

Mr Horne said that it was appropriate that the train was on this route because of two former fusilier regiments; The Royal Fusiliers as a London regiment and The Northumberland Fusiliers which were from around Newcastle.

Mr Horne added: “It is an honour to be able to name one of our trains to mark the 50th anniversary.”