Flying Scotsman in Shropshire: Plea to stay off tracks during visit
Fans of the Flying Scotsman are being urged to keep safe by staying off the tracks as the famous locomotive visits Shropshire this month, as a rail boss described instances of people standing on tracks to take photos as 'concerning'.
When the stately locomotive returned to the line after a decade earlier this year, photographs shared online showed crowds of people, including young children, standing in the path of oncoming trains for a good vantage point.
Even more worrying, said rail bosses, was that the youngsters' view was obscured by plumes of steam and smoke from the engine.
They appealed to anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of the iconic train to only do so from a safe and a publicly accessible area.
Flying Scotsman returned to the tracks after a £4.2million refurbishment by the National Railway Museum in February with an inaugural journey from London King's Cross to York which was greeted by thousands of people lining the route.
However some were seen walking along the tracks and taking photographs of the locomotive while other trains continued to pass by on nearby lines.
Phil Hufton, Network Rail managing director, said: "While the turnout to see the Flying Scotsman so far has shown the passion and support for steam engines, and indeed the railway itself, the images of people stood on the railway taking photographs were deeply concerning and a breach of our safe operations.
"I cannot stress enough how dangerous it is to go onto the railway without any formal training and without permission, as well as illegal."
Flying Scotsman is due to travel on the Severn Valley Railway on September 21- 29.
