THOUSANDS of people look set to be disappointed after rail chiefs revealed a fault has grounded the historic Flying Scotsman for the rest of the week.

Passengers were dismayed when the loco was halted yesterday at a level crossing, just outside the city centre, after engineers spotted a problem.

The National Rail Museum (NRM) was forced to dispatch the former Royal locomotive Prince William, a diesel, to tow the Scotsman back to the workshop.

But when engineers looked at the Scotsman back at the museum's Leeman Road headquarters, they found a secondary problem which means it will not run again this week.

A replacement steam locomotive has been lined up to take the twice-daily York to Scarborough journeys, which had been carrying 700 people a day.

The latest problems follow the cancellation of trips last week following the discovery of a technical fault.

Andrew Scott, head of the NRM, said: "During the return lunchtime journey from Scarborough, within a few miles from York station, it appears Flying Scotsman suffered from a failed component on the steam supply to the engine's Westinghouse air compressor.

"We have apologised to the passengers who were booked on the (return) journey, for which a substitute locomotive was used."

People who have booked to travel on the Scotsman in coming days can either ride on the alternative steam train, the Black Five, or get refund.

Updated: 10:37 Wednesday, July 28, 2004