A SPECIAL exhibition celebrating 100 years of a famous holiday train is to open at the Steam Museum on Thursday.

The Cornish Riviera Express ran for the first time on July 1, 1904, taking Londoners to Penzance in seven hours.

First Great Western still runs the service every morning from Paddington, but these days it only takes five hours.

Steam is dedicating an area of the museum to a special display telling the story of the famous GWR service.

Based in the Museum's Speed To The West section, it covers the history of the train from its beginnings through to its heyday between the two World wars.

It also includes the story of how the train got its name and looks at Swindon's involvement with the success of the service.

"The Cornish Riviera Express was a prestigious GWR service," said Elaine Arthurs, collections officer at Steam. "This display gives visitors an interesting and nostalgic view of the golden age of the railways."

The display will run until October 1. Admission, as normal, is £5.95 for adults, £3.80 for juniors and £3.90 for senior citizens.