Part of the Sundew dragline excavator on display at Rocks by Rail in Rutland

An enormous excavator that ‘walked’ 13 miles in eight weeks was a star attraction at a rail and quarry museum over the bank holiday.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Sundew dragline excavator’s ‘great walk’ from Exton to Corby, Rocks by Rail near Cottesmore had the giant machine’s cab on show, plus a working model of the whole contraption.

People had the opportunity to sit at the controls of Sundew, a 1,675-ton machine that in the summer of 1974 crossed 10 roads, a railway line and the River Welland on its way to Corby, having served its time at the ironstone quarry at Exton Park.

They could also ride in the brake van of the Rutlander train, and see excavators in operation and wagons being shunted.

Rocks by Rail is a museum about Rutland’s quarrying history and the transport associated with moving huge amounts of stone.

It offers over-16s the chance to be a ‘Driver for a Fiver’ and take a Rolls Royce-powered diesel locomotive up the line and back to the platform under the supervision of an experienced driver.

The Driver for a Fiver experiences can be had on a first come, first served basis on Sunday June 16 (Father’s Day), July 14, August 11, September 8 and October 6.

While the museum is open and there are rail operating days at Rocks by Rail most Sundays, static exhibits including the Sundew exhibition can also be viewed between 10am until 4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays until October.

If you have an event coming up, email details to news@lincsonline.co.uk