FIVE years after it was saved for the nation, a new SOS has been issued to bring the legendary Flying Scotsman back to the mainline.

The Steam Our Scotsman appeal aims to raise £250,000 to complete the restoration of one of the world’s most iconic locomotives.

Engine number 4472 was saved from being sold abroad in 2004 when the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York launched a nationwide appeal and secured it for almost £2.6m.

Since then, the engine has undergone a large amount of work in order to be fully functional and get back on the rails.

Curator of rail vehicles Jim Rees said: “Too often financial constraints led to the use of short-term fixes, with locomotives being repaired with no more foresight than the next seven or ten years of certification – the very opposite of our own aims and ambitions for Flying Scotsman.”

When the museum acquired the engine it was carrying a boiler from an A4 that had been fitted in the 1970s, as was commonly done in British Rail days. It also came with an A3 boiler that it had carried before then from 1964.

Mr Rees explained: “The A4 boiler was in poor condition, having had many repairs and alterations, some conventional and recorded, others less so, so we decided to repair the A3 boiler, not just for the short-term, but to the highest possible standard.

“The restoration has cost a great deal more than anticipated due to the poor condition of the boiler and the rising cost of copper – hence the need for a public appeal.”

The public is being invited to sponsor various components, and significant donors will have their names displayed at the NRM in a hall of fame. Parts on offer range from a bolt at £25 to the entire outer firebox at £100,000.

Museum director Andrew Scott said: “Flying Scotsman represents the apex of British engineering and the romance of steam for the general public and therefore it is important we bring her back to the main line for everyone to enjoy.

“We are hoping the people that helped us to save the most famous of locomotives back in 2004 will now pledge their continued support to ‘steam’ her, and also that our quest to bring Scotsman back to Britain’s tracks will strike a chord in a new generation of enthusiast.”

■ To donate, supporters can visit nrm.org.uk/flyingscotsman or contact the museum’s development team on 01904-685707 or at sos.appeal@nrm.org,uk Supporters can also write to SOS Appeal, NRM, Leeman Road, York, YO264XJ.