The Flying Scotsman under steam for first time in over a decade

Date published: 08 January 2016

The Flying Scotsman, the first steam locomotive in the world to hit 100mph, has undergone a £4.2m restoration project and the Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Surinder and Cecile Biant, boarded the Flying Scotsman Exclusive Premium Night Diner tonight (Friday 8 January) as it set off from Bolton Street Station, Bury.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Surinder and Cecile Biant, with the Flying Scotsman

Mayor Biant said: "It is a real privilege to be here, and to have the opportunity to travel on this iconic locomotive is wonderful."

Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Surinder and Cecile Biant, aboard the Flying Scotsman

Also present was the Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Richard Farnell, who added: "A truly magnificent restoration. It is fantastic to see the Flying Scotsman rattling the rails of the East Lancashire Railway."

Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Surinder and Cecile Biant, and the Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Richard Farnell beside the Flying Scotsman

Test runs of the world’s most famous locomotive started today (Friday 8 January) in Bury with the locomotive pulling carriages between Heywood, Bury and Rawtenstall along the East Lancashire Railway.

Specialist engineers at Riley and Son Ltd started work on the engine in 2006.

The engine has been restored for York's National Railway Museum (NRM).

Chairman of East Lancashire Railway, Brian Davies, a former Heywood councillor, was thrilled to see a decade's work completed, he said: "What a magnificent occasion. I am absolutely thrilled."

Brian Davies, Chairman of East Lancashire Railway Trust, with the Flying Scotsman

The engine, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, was built by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) at Doncaster Works in 1923, at a cost of £7,944.

It was named the Flying Scotsman after the London to Edinburgh service which started daily at 10am.

In 1928, it was redesigned with a new type of corridor which meant a new crew could take over without the train stopping - reducing journey times from London to Edinburgh by eight hours.

In 1934 it earned a place in the record books as the first steam locomotive to achieve an authenticated 100mph run.

The Flying Scotsman

When it was first built, the Flying Scotsman was apple green, but it was repainted black during the war, in common with all railway stock.

It was later blue when the railways were nationalised until it went out of service in 1963.

The locomotive was bought and repaired by British businessman William McAlpine in the Eighties and went on a tour of Australia, clocking up 422 miles - the longest ever non-stop run by a steam locomotive.

After a successful campaign, the locomotive was once more returned to public ownership in 2004 down to backing from Sir Richard Branson and the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

In its latest form, it is back to its classic green and is officially known as No. 60103.

The Flying Scotsman

On Saturday the first of four open days gets under way and although all tickets for all Flying Scotsman journeys have already now sold out, thousands of spectators are expected to turn out to watch along the route.

The Scotsman will make five trips on Saturday 9 January, Sunday 10 January, Saturday 16 January and Sunday 17 January.

Leaving Bury at 9am on Saturday 9 January, the locomotive will arrive at Rawtenstall, without stopping, at 9.33am.

It will then depart Rawtenstall after turning at 9.50am and will travel to Heywood, without stopping, and arrive at 10.39am.

The Flying Scotsman

On its second trip, the Scotsman will leave Heywood station at 10.55am and arrive in Bury at 11.08am.

It then leaves Bury after a stop for platform viewings at 11.30am and will travel to Rawtenstall, where it will arrive at 12.03pm.

The Scotsman will then leave Rawtenstall at 12.20pm and will arrive in Heywood, without stopping, at 1.09pm.

Leaving Heywood at 1.25pm, the Scotsman will arrive again in Bury at 1.38pm.

It leaves Bury at 2.00pm and will arrive in Rawtenstall at 2.33pm. It will set off again at 2.50pm and will steam through Heywood, where it will arrive at 3.39pm.

The Flying Scotsman

Finally it sets off from Heywood at 3.55pm, arriving in Bury at 4.08pm and Rawtenstall at 5.03pm.

The Scotsman will then turn in Rawtenstall where it will depart on its final journey at 5.20pm and it will arrive in Heywood at 6.09pm.

The timetable is the same for all four days.

Platform tickets will be available to view the Scotsman at local stations. In Heywood, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall it will cost £3 and at the Bury Bolton Street Station it will cost £5.

The Flying Scotsman

Dedicated to the late steam train enthusiast Pete Hinchliffe