TRAIN lovers flocked to the National Railway Museum to celebrate the arrival of the world’s most famous engine.

Enthusiasts came from all over the country to the Shildon museum in County Durham, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the Flying Scotsman locomotive.

Sarah Mallon, who had travelled from Chester to see the engine and was hoping for the chance to climb on board, said: “My younger brother is obsessed with trains so I’ve been brought up going around all the train museums. The opportunity to go and have a look at the Flying Scotsman was something I could rub in his face.

“Until we came here, we didn’t realise this was here but having the Flying Scotsman will draw in lots of tourism I assume for this area.”

The engine is making its third visit to the museum since marking the opening of the National Railway Museum in 2004. The Flying Scotsman was built in the 1920s and was the very first locomotive built by LNER.

Alongside new visitors to the museum, regular guests caught a view of the famous engine.

David Bellamy, from Crook in County Durham, met with his friends from Redcar to view the locomotive.

He said: “We come here to meet just to have a bit crack as we used to work together, we also come because we like to see the trains.”

During the excitement, volunteers were working hard to get the locomotive passenger ready, cleaning the engine.

Museum assistant Joe Randall from Darlington, had been cleaning the locomotive – which arrived on Tuesday – ensuring it was fit for the public.

He said: “We are celebrating today this engine right here, which is the Flying Scotsman coming into the museum available for public viewing.

“This engine has had a very long and exciting history – it’s set two world records, it’s been to America, it’s been to Australia and nearly been scrapped a few times.

“The Flying Scotsman will be open a little bit later today for people to get into the cab and experience what the driver and firemen experience when they’re on there.

"They might be able to walk through the corridor tender as well, which is really tight and cramped and that’s a unique experience, you can’t really do that anywhere else.”

The engine will be at the museum until August 1 and is among about 70 other notable locomotives. For more information visit https://www.locomotion.org.uk/visit