THE Flying Scotsman will share the spotlight with another famous locomotive this weekend.

On Saturday (July 30) and Sunday visitors to Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, in Shildon, County Durham, will witness steam legend Flying Scotsman team up with its successor Union of South Africa.

The spectacular sight will be the first time in more than half a century that these two famous classes of locomotive, a Sir Nigel Gresley-designed A3 and A4 have been seen together on a ‘double headed’ train.

The Flying Scotsman is already the star attraction at the sixties-themed Shed Bash event at the museum but it will be joined together with its fellow heritage icon for the closing weekend of the National Railway Museum’s 2016 Scotsman Season.

Gary Campbell, museum manager at Locomotion, said: “This is the perfect showstopper to close our Scotsman Season in style – it’s a real one off and rail fans won’t have spotted anything similar for more than five decades.

"Our free event celebrating Flying Scotsman’s 2016 return to the tracks has seen over 40,000 people so far take in the sights and sounds of real steam and many visitors have taken the time to tell us how much they have enjoyed riding behind this legendary loco and hopping on board its cab and that of other well-known rail icons.”

Union of South Africa hauled the royal train with Her Majesty the Queen at the opening of the Borders Railway.

For more information about the weekend call the museum on 01388-777999 or visit www.nrm.org.uk