THE world famous Flying Scotsman steamed through Craven yesterday (Sunday) on its return journey from York to Carlisle, taking in the Settle and Carlisle Railway.

It is pictured here by Philip Winstanley at Coniston Cold, and Selside Shaw, with Penyghent in the background, and also at a wet Cononley Station in the evening.

The loco – designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and built at Doncaster in the 1920s – was bound for the Settle & Carlisle Railway, hauling The Waverley.

It picked-up passengers at York, Leeds, Shipley, Keighley and Skipton.

Steam services resumed on the Settle and Carlisle route in May after a year in which many historic locos have been largely idle due to the pandemic.

Heritage rail operator The Railway Touring Company is staging a series of steam dates along the line.

Flying Scotsman is due to haul The Waverley again on August 22.

In a normal summer, around 2,250 passengers would travel on The Waverley. But this year, numbers are limited to allow for social distancing – and demand is high.

Kelly Osborne, managing director of The Railway Touring Company, said: “Already a number of our steam excursions for this summer are full. After a very tough 15 months for the heritage rail industry, it’s tremendous to see such enthusiasm and support from people.”