Flying Scotsman : Famous locomotive stops off in Newark

Enthusiasts and commuters saw the Flying Scotsman at Newark Northgate railway station today.

It stopped off for around 15 minutes as part of its journey from the National Railway Museum in York, where it is housed, to London.

Mr Michael James, of Lincoln Street, Newark, was among the crowd gathered on the platform at the station, many of whom took photographs and videos.

Mr James, 72, said: “It’s the sight and the smell that make it so special.

“There’s nothing to see on a modern train other than the fact they’re moving.

“But there’s so much visible on the Flying Scotsman. The smell is just exotic. Add that to the steam and it’s a magic mix.

“It’s living history.”

The Flying Scotsman entered service in 1923 and in 1928 it hauled the first non-stop London to Edinburgh service.

Six years later, it became the first locomotive in the UK to reach 100mph, a speed recorded while on a special test run.

The National Railway Museum bought it in 2004, and began £4.2m restoration work in 2006. It returned to the tracks in February last year and passed through several locations in the Advertiser area as part of its journey on the East Coast Main Line.