Hundreds of people turned out to watch the iconic Flying Scotsman train thunder through Highbridge on Tuesday (May 23rd).
People of all ages watched from bridges, crossings and Highbridge Railway Station to catch a glimpse of the classic engine as it travelled between Bristol and Bishops Lydeard.
Burnham-On-Sea.com spoke to several spectators watching at Highbridge Railway Station. Graham Dyer, pictured below with his family, said: “It was a superb sight to see – it’s such a nostalgic engine and reminds us of days gone by.”
Dave Burrows added: “It was wonderful to see here in Highbridge. It’s such a super engine and it was great that it same through quite slowly so everyone could catch a glimpse – although I pressed my camera button just too late to get a good photo!”
British Transport Police, along with Network Rail, had reminded people not to put themselves in danger by trespassing on the tracks or getting too close – and extra police were seen patrolling.
The Scotsman, owned by York’s National Railway Museum, was unveiled in January 2016, having been refurbished during a painstaking refurburishment project.
Painted in its wartime black livery, the locomotive has been brought back to life after the National Railway Museum bought it for £2.3 million in 2004.
Two years ago, the Scotsman topped a poll of the world’s best-known trains and locomotives following a worldwide survey.
It was originally built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) and set two world records for steam traction, becoming the first steam locomotive to be officially authenticated at reaching 100 miles per hour (160.9 km/h) on 30th November 1934.
It also set a record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive when it ran 422 miles (679 km) on 8th August 1989 while in Australia.
The engine will come back through Highbridge again in September when it travels on its next round of tours.
Pictured: The Flying Scotsman travelling through the Burnham-On-Sea area and Highbridge railway station on Tuesday (pics Scott Petch, David Pearce, Burnham-On-Sea.com, Bev Milner Simonds)
