Shropshire Star

Flying Scotsman to steam in to Severn Valley Railway

The Severn Valley Railway will become one of the first heritage lines in the country to host the Flying Scotsman following its £4.2 million renovation.

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The locomotive will be the star attraction at the SVR's Autumn Steam Gala in September.

Officials on the line, which attracts thousands of visitors a year who travel along the route between Bridgnorth and Kidderminster, said they were "absolutely delighted".

Clare Gibbard, marketing manager, said: "To be one of the first heritage railways in the country to host this iconic engine is a true privilege."

The Flying Scotsman. which is expected to carry out its first run between London Kings Cross and York in the next few weeks, will be a star attraction at the SVR Autumn Gala, which runs from September 22 to 25.

The renovation project has been carried out at Riley and Sons engineering, in Bury, Lancashire.

Clare Gibbard added: "We are expecting next year's gala to be busier than ever, as steam enthusiasts from across the country flock to see Scotsman back in steam once again."

The Flying Scotsman was built in Doncaster in 1923 and soon became the star locomotive of the British railway system, pulling the first train to break the 100mph barrier in 1934.

The National Railway Museum bought the locomotive for £2.3 million in 2004 and work began on it in 2006.

The restored engine is due back at the National Railway Museum in York in February and plans are advanced for its inaugural run from London Kings Cross to Yorkshire.

It will then make appearances at the East Lancashire Railway and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, before it heads to the SVR.

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