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Thousands celebrate Flying Scotsman's return to Scotland | Thousands celebrate Flying Scotsman's return to Scotland |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The Flying Scotsman has crossed the Forth Bridge on a journey marking its return to Scotland. | |
Steam enthusiasts turned out in force to watch the engine cross the distinctive red bridge that has carried trains over the Forth since 1890. | |
The locomotive, which has undergone a 10-year restoration, travelled from Edinburgh to the Borders and back along the reopened Borders Railway. | |
Large scale events were also held in Galashiels and Tweedbank. | |
It followed an eleventh-hour U-turn by Network Rail which had said on Friday that the engine could not travel on the route. | |
The body has now apologised for delays in checking whether lines were suitable for the steam train. | |
The Flying Scotsman's arrival at Edinburgh Waverley Station on Saturday evening was its first trip to Scotland since its restoration was competed earlier this year. | |
Built in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, in 1923, the Flying Scotsman pulled the first train to break the 100mph barrier in 1934. | Built in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, in 1923, the Flying Scotsman pulled the first train to break the 100mph barrier in 1934. |
The National Railway Museum in York bought the locomotive for £2.3m in 2004 before work got under way on its decade-long restoration two years later. | The National Railway Museum in York bought the locomotive for £2.3m in 2004 before work got under way on its decade-long restoration two years later. |
Around 800 people watched as the train left Edinburgh shortly before 11:00 BST on Sunday and hundreds more lined the route to get a closer look at the engine. | |
After a return to Waverley, the Flying Scotsman headed to Fife with a new group of passengers on board. | |
The Flying Scotsman's visit was arranged by excursion operator Steam Dreams, which said it had been working with Network Rail for months to ensure it went ahead smoothly. | |
Late on Friday afternoon, however, Network Rail informed the company it did not have the right data to "gauge" the Flying Scotsman - a process which involves checking if it fits within structures such as platforms and bridges. | |
The cancellation led to an outcry, with Scottish Transport Minister Derek Mackay accusing Network Rail of incompetence and warning it would damage Scottish tourism. | |
Network Rail reversed the decision under 24 hours later. The body's chief executive Mark Carne has apologised and promised a full investigation. | |
In February Network Rail was forced to pay out almost £60,000 in compensation when dozens of train services were delayed by people encroaching on to the track during the refurbished train's inaugural run from London to York. |