Famous locomotive Flying Scotsman comes to north Wales

Flying ScotsmanPA

One of the world's most famous locomotives steamed into Wales as part of a UK-wide tour.

Crowds flocked to see the Flying Scotsman, which passed Prestatyn and Colwyn Bay before heading to Holyhead on its journey.

There had been concerns spectators may trespass on the line ahead of the event.

Bob Gwynne, of the National Railway Museum, said the engine was a "powerful symbol of the steam age".

The historic engine, which retired from service in 1963 and was later bought by north Wales businessman Alan Pegler, started on a tour of the UK in April.

It started its latest leg of its UK-wide journey at Crewe at 10.30 BST, heading to Chester before continuing its journey along the north Wales coast on Saturday.

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Mr Gwynne said: "It's arguably the most famous steam train in the world. It's great that it's coming to north Wales, especially given Alan Pegler's links to it.

"I went to see it for the first time when I was eight - and its one of those things that stays with you for life.

"It'll be a day to remember for many."

The famous Flying Scotsman

Getty Images
  • Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, Flying Scotsman emerged from Doncaster Works on 24 February 1923
  • The British Empire Exhibition in 1924 made Flying Scotsman famous
  • In 1934, Scotsman was clocked at 100mph - officially the first locomotive to have reached that speed. But some claim City of Truro was the first steam engine to break the 100mph record, in 1904, when it apparently reached a speed of 102mph running down a slope
  • It is 70ft (21m) long, weighs about 96 tonnes and had a top speed of 100mph
  • It has travelled approximately 2,500,000 miles
  • During World War Two it was repainted wartime black
  • By 1995 it was part-owned by record producer Pete Waterman
  • The engine was bought for the nation in 2004 by the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York using £415,000 in public donations, a £365,000 gift from Sir Richard Branson and a £1.8m grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund

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