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Flying Scotsman on London King's Cross to York run | Flying Scotsman on London King's Cross to York run |
(about 1 hour later) | |
One of the world's most famous locomotives has set off on its official return to the tracks. | One of the world's most famous locomotives has set off on its official return to the tracks. |
The Flying Scotsman is making the journey from London King's Cross to York, where it will go on display at the National Railway Museum (NRM). | The Flying Scotsman is making the journey from London King's Cross to York, where it will go on display at the National Railway Museum (NRM). |
It departed King's Cross as scheduled at 07:40 GMT but was briefly held up by people standing on the track to take photos near St Neots. | |
The locomotive has been restored for the NRM in a decade-long, £4.2m refit. | |
Follow the Flying Scotsman's progress on our live page | Follow the Flying Scotsman's progress on our live page |
Former MP turned TV presenter Michael Portillo, said: "This is certainly the most famous journey and most famous locomotive in Britain." | |
A spokesman for Network Rail said the locomotive had been brought to a stop at about 09:00 while British Transport Police cleared the lines. | |
He said: "We are all excited to see The Flying Scotsman return to our rails and we know that many people have waited years for this. | |
"Please stay safe and keep away from the trackside. Normal services are still running. | |
"The number of people beside the track is already giving us safety concerns and means we are having to slow trains down. | |
"Trespassing on the railway is illegal and incredibly dangerous, please help us to make today a success and stay off the railway." | |
Crowds gathered at King's Cross and thousands are expected along the route, with many passengers paying up to £450 for a ticket to travel on the train. | Crowds gathered at King's Cross and thousands are expected along the route, with many passengers paying up to £450 for a ticket to travel on the train. |
Among the passengers was 83-year-old Ron Kennedy, from Leigh-on-Sea, in Essex, who drove Flying Scotsman from 1956 until it was retired in 1963. | |
He said "It's unbelievable. I never dreamt about being on it again. To be out with it is just fantastic." | |
NRM director, Paul Kirkman, said the restoration project was a "long old journey" but added that it was "incredibly satisfying" to see the locomotive returned to service. | |
The locomotive undertook a series of test runs through Cumbria and Lancashire earlier this year. | The locomotive undertook a series of test runs through Cumbria and Lancashire earlier this year. |
Flying Scotsman | Flying Scotsman |
Flying Scotsman in London-York run | Flying Scotsman in London-York run |