Flying Scotsman returns to the tracks

One of the world’s most famous locomotives makes its inaugural journey from London King’s Cross to York

The legendary locomotive the Flying Scotsman has returned to service, travelling from London King’s Cross station to York, and will be running on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway during March.

One of the world’s most famous steam locomotives, the LNER Class A3 “Pacific”, was built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) at Doncaster Works to a design by Nigel Gresley. It was at that time given the number 4472 and used to haul long-distance trains, notably the 10.00am London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Flying Scotsman express after which it was named.

The engine, which was retired from service in 1963, has been restored for the National Railway Museum (NRM) in a decade-long, £4.2 million refit.

It departed King's Cross at 07:40 GMT and is heading up the East Coast mainline on a non-stop run. However, Network Rail has said it has had to “stop all the trains” on the East Coast Mainline – including the Flying Scotsman – due to a “huge number of trespassers” eager to catch a glimpse of the famous engine.

Tweets from Network Rail told rail enthusiasts that there were safe vantage points that could be used to photograph the train and warned people to not be tempted to trespass on the railway.

Sadly for anyone looking to book a ride on the Flying Scotsman in March, tickets have all now sold out.