STEAM lovers have one day left to enter a prize draw for the chance to win tickets to ride behind the world’s most famous locomotive.

To mark last month’s anniversary of the Flying Scotsman joining its National Collection, the National Railway Museum announced an opportunity for fans to ride behind the locomotive when it comes to the museum’s Shildon branch, in County Durham, in July.

Thousands of Scotsman fans have already entered the draw to win guaranteed tickets for the event on Saturday, July 23, which is the opening day of the Sixties-themed Shed Bash event at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, in Shildon.

Although tickets are priced at £5 each, they are not available for pre-booking to ensure that all fans have an equal opportunity of experiencing travel behind the steam legend.

Paul Kirkman, Director of the National Railway Museum, said: “As so many heritage railways sold all their available Flying Scotsman rides within days and many railway tours starring Scotsman are fully booked, we wanted to offer a truly open chance for fans of this iconic locomotive to ride behind this steam legend at our Shildon museum.”

Pam Porter, Events Manager at Locomotion; the National Railway Museum at Shildon, added: “We hope that the chance to win tickets at our free museum event showcasing Scotsman in steam alongside other East Coast giants will be the perfect way to celebrate the nation’s ownership of this celebrity among steam locomotives.

“We’re looking forward to as many people as possible joining us to marvel at the sight of Scotsman in steam and take the chance to ride behind it and hop on board its cab and that of other well-known rail icons.”

Other attractions at the event in Shildon include the Green Arrow and Union of South Africa, and the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry which was cosmetically restored in the Shildon workshop to its Sixties appearance for the Virgin Trains-sponsored Scotsman Season.

Five pairs of tickets guaranteeing a ride on the first train on the opening day are still available.

To apply, visit flyingscotsman.org.uk/shedbash-prize-draw.

The deadline for applications is 10am on Tuesday, June 14.

The Flying Scotsman and the Shildon Shed Bash runs from Saturday, July 23 to Sunday, July 31.