The Flying Scotsman...

...returns!

The Flying Scotsman was playing out today after millions have been spent on restoring it. Oh, it was majestic as it travelled between Rawtenstall, Heywood and Bury today. I went along to Bury Station with Kath and Chrissie.....and hundreds of other anoraks steam train lovers...to smell the steam, hear the roar and feel the ground shake as it passed through the station. 

"Please move away from the edge of the platform," came over the tannoy as the crowds vied for a front row view. Hah! there was no way I was moving from my vantage point. I was so close that as it passed me by, the mighty force rumbled round my rib cage....and I loved it! 

We saw it pass by from the car park when we arrived in Bury, I took this shot on the camera I borrowed from Chrissie...Oh, how I missed my beloved camera today...and then we went to the station to see it arrive and depart a couple of times as it rumbled between the three stations. There was no rush as it proudly rolled passed, giving everyone time to point their cameras and phones and record it all. 

As the steam enveloped us we may not have been riding in it, but we felt part of the special day. There were long delays though, partly because the brakes weren't behaving properly and it was bitterly cold waiting on the platform...but I didn't care. I love steam trains and I'm not ashamed to admit it. It was disappointing when it arrived with the engine facing the wrong way and sandwiched between the carriages and another engine though, but after it left Heywood it was proudly back at the front again. 

Whilst we stood, shivering on the platform, waiting for the Scotsman to return, another steam train arrived and we watched as passengers boarded in the first class dining car. That is now on my list of things to do....anyone care to join me?