Flying Scotsman's return to North York Moors is a complete sell out

The Flying Scotsman locomotive under steam at the East Lancashire Railway tracks as it made its first public appearance earlier this month after the successful completion of a decade-long Â£4.2m restoration project.

Every seat on 21 journeys that will take in 18 miles of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway between March 12-20 has been sold.

Chris Price, the railway’s MD, said: “We are delighted to welcome the legendary Flying Scotsman to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and for visitors to ride behind the world’s most famous steam locomotive on the world’s busiest heritage railway.

“Tickets to ride behind the finished locomotive in resplendent BR Brunswick Green, have now completely sold out. Due to public demand, we added an additional carriage to each service, but these too were also snapped up quickly.

Workshop manager Richard Pearson preparing the iconic 1960's Deltic locomotive 'King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry', at the National Railway Museum at Shildon, County Durham, ahead of it's important role alongside steam legend Flying Scotsman in the museum's ground breaking 'Stunts, Speed and Style' display, which will take place at its York site in March.

“As well as seeing her in such a wonderful attire, we are looking forward to hearing the sounds of such a fine locomotive resonate through the stunning North York Moors, as she travels along the 18 miles of countryside between Grosmont and Pickering.

“Although tickets have sold out to travel behind Flying Scotsman, there are trains running on opposite services which will allow people will be able to catch and disembark at stations, for photographs.”

Flying Scotsman has been restored at a cost of £4.2m after the National Railway Museum in York bought it for £2.3m in 2004. Originally built in Doncaster in 1923, it became the star locomotive of the British railway system, pulling the first train to break the 100mph barrier.

As it is prepared to run again, museum bosses revealed that a milestone had been reached in the ongoing restoration of another old engine.

The 1960’s Deltic locomotive ‘King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry’ has now had the last vestige of its old blue livery stripped away at Locomotion, the National Railway Museum’s sister site in Shildon, County Durham.

The vehicle is currently being prepared for its important role alongside Flying Scotsman in the museum’s groundbreaking ‘Stunts, Speed and Style’ display, which will take place at the York site in March.