The BBC's Alan Whitehouse: "Boyhood dream come true"

The move is part of the Northern Spirit company's inclusion of a regular steam train service in its timetable.

Northern Spirit operates commuter shuttles across the Pennines - and is already running steam engines along a Yorkshire branch line previously threatened with closure.

Return to the glorious days of steam

The turn of the century locomotives - which are worth up to travel through the Esk Valley from Pickering to Grosmont, in partnership with the North Yorkshire Moors Historical Railway Trust.

And from the summer, a newer, longer service will run to the seaside town of Whitby.

The romance of steam trains has gripped not only passengers but drivers, who are queuing up to learn to drive them.

Gary Callighan, a spokesman for Northern Spirit, which runs a commercial service from Middlesbrough to Whitby, said the idea of putting the steam train on its track had been a huge success.

It is 30 years since British Rail last ran a steam train in regular service

He said: "We had sold out of tickets within three hours. The demand was amazing. When new signalling work takes place we will be looking at extending the service this summer."

The extended service from Pickering to Whitby is now likely to run in summer evenings and at weekends.

Mr Callighan added: "There has been no shortage of our staff wanting to drive the new service.

"It is certainly bringing out the boy in some of our drivers."

Chris Hudson from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway said: "There is nothing better than to see a steam engine winding its way through the North Yorkshire country side.