THE man who led the campaign to save the iconic Flying Scotsman locomotive for the nation is to retire later this year.

Andrew Scott, director of the National Railway Museum in York, also spearheaded the project team behind its Shildon offshoot, Locomotion.

During his 15 years with the NRM it has become the most visited outside of London and has won many awards including European Museum of the Year.

His most recent achievement was leading the museum to the successful completion of the first stage of a lottery bid for the planned £20m redevelopment of the museum’s Great Hall, known as NRM+.

The scheme is the museum’s most important project since its opening in 1975 and is planned to open in 2012 to coincide with the London Olympics and wider cultural celebrations throughout Yorkshire.

Mr Scott said: "The NRM is a world class organisation and I am sad to be leaving at such an exciting time in its history.

"However, having reached the milestone age of 60, it seemed the right time to stand back and allow someone else to take the reins."

He added: "I am honoured to have seen the NRM+ project through its first stage and I am confident this amazing scheme will take the Museum from strength to strength."

The chairman of the museum’s advisory board, Sir Howard Newby, said: "Under Andrew’s leadership the NRM has enjoyed record visitor numbers and it is now developing plans to take visitors on an even more exciting journey to discover how railways helped shape today’s world.

"On behalf of the advisory board and the trustees, I thank him for his dedication and achievements during his time as director."