FINAL preparations are underway for the arrival of the world’s most famous locomotive to a North-East town.

The Flying Scotsman will spend eight days at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, in Shildon, County Durham, from Saturday, July 23, to Sunday, July 31, as part of the Shildon Shed Bash.

Inspired by the ‘Shed Bashes’ of the Fifties and Sixties, Flying Scotsman will be joined by A4 60009 Union of South Africa, Q6 63395, V2 4771 Green Arrow and D9002 Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

Passengers can ride behind the Flying Scotsman every morning of the event, from 10am and 1pm, for £5. Tickets are on sale each morning of the event.

The locomotive will be taken out of service in the afternoons to allow visitors to board its cab.

Celebrations take place throughout Shildon, on Saturday, to mark the occasion.

The Lanchester Brass Band is performing in the town square and Durham Police Brass Band will be in Hackworth Park, from 2pm to 4pm.

Children’s drop-in activities take place at Shildon Library from 10am to 4pm, where there will be an exhibition called The First Five Miles of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.

Exhibitions at St John’s Church include the 1984 NUR banner; Timothy Hackworth, by his great-great granddaughter Jane Hackworth-Young; The Brusselton Incline and Stockton and Darlington Railway; the history of St John’s Church; photography of the Stockton and Darlington Railway; Railway Art; and railway-themed knitting.

An art exhibition runs at Shildon AFC’s Dean Street ground from 10am to 4pm.

There will be no free parking at the museum, but park and ride services will operate from Sedgefield’s Hardwick Park and Bishop Auckland College, for £3 per person.

Opening hours are 9.30am to 6pm. Free entry.

For information, visit flyingscotsman.org.uk/events/shildon-shed-bash.

Don’t miss Saturday’s Northern Echo for a special Flying Scotsman Echo Memories.