IT is renowned as a 'locomotive legend.'

The much anticipated arrival of the iconic Flying Scotsman following its lengthy and painstaking £4.2m restoration process will no doubt prove to be an emotional experience for many train buffs.

And while the recent need for some fine tuning on the brakes, identified during test runs on the East Lancashire Railway, led to the train being unable to haul the Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express last Saturday, it is hoped the train will soon be back in action following the mainline test runs.

It will certainly not dampen the excitement which is already building for the celebration of the history of this iconic celebrity of the train tracks.

The launch of Scotsman Season next month at the National Railway Museum in York will showcase this loco legend in all its pomp and glory.

Starting on February 26 and running until July 31, trainspotters and steam buffs will be in their element as they get to savour the sights and take a step back in time to revisit some of the highlights in the Flying Scotsman's fascinating history.

Celebrations heralding the nation's steam star, the sole survivor of its kind, include an inaugural run between London Kings Cross and York in late February followed by a celebratory 'Welcome Home' event exploring the fame and celebrity of the loco.

From March 25 to May 8 'Stunts, Speed and Style' allows visitors to dip into the past and explore the Flying Scotman's high speed heyday.

The event explores the history from the 1890s to the Swinging Sixties, and for those keen to capture the moment on camera, special photography and exclusive access events will be available.

For those eager to get a piece of the action, tickets for 'Service with Style' are now on sale. This experimental exhibition runs from March 25 to May 8 and explores the glamour and luxury of the loco legend's train service throughout the eras.

Other family-friendly events include the Scotsman science show - 'Need for Speed' - as well as craft activities during the school holidays and a programme of talks.

And for those eager to see the locomotive legend in action, a growing number of dates on its comeback tour will allow enthusiasts to see the famous steam machine travelling on the tracks.

It is anticipated the train will be on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in Pickering in March and it will also travel through the region on a number of heritage tours in May.

Designed by the renowned steam locomotive engineer, Sir Nigel Gresley and built at Doncaster Works in 1923, Flying Scotsman was the flagship locomotive of the new London & North Eastern Railway (LNER).

Christened after the renowned express train service between London and Edinburgh, the Flying Scotsman made its debut at the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley in 1924 and the following year.

During its career on the tracks, the train achieved a string of record-breaking feats, including becoming the first locomotive to achieve an authenticated 100mph run in 1934 and hauling the first non-stop service between London and Edinburgh in 1928.

It also clinched a starring role in the first British talkie movie (aptly christened The Flying Scotsman) in 1929.

Bought by the National Railway Museum in 2004 for £2.3m with a £1.8m grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and public generosity eager to keep the steam icon in Britain, the restoration has been supported by the help of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £275,000.

Jamie Taylor, interpretation developer at the National Railway Museum, says: "Flying Scotsman's life so far has been an incredible rollercoaster ride, and we've had so much fun exploring its ups and downs to prepare our Starring Scotsman exhibition. I'm sure the public will be fascinated by the wonderful stories we've uncovered and our exhibition's playful approach to the amazing story of the original steam star."

The National Railway Museum attracts 700,000 visitors every year. It boasts the largest collection in the world, including more than 300 locomotives and rolling stock, 628 coins and medals, 4899 pieces of railway uniform and costume, railway equipment, documents, records, artwork and railway related autographs.

To find out more about this and other Flying Scotsman Season events visit nrm.org.uk/flyingscotsman/scotsman-season, or visit flyingscotsman.org.uk/events.