A GREAT cheer rang around the platforms as the world's most famous locomotive, Flying Scotsman, steamed into York station.

The king of steam was more than an hour late because of problems coupling ten carriages to locomotive No 4472, but scores of rail enthusiasts were thrilled to see it arrive for its inaugural summer outing to Scarborough.

Television personality Richard Whiteley donned a station master's hat and blew a whistle to signal the beginning of a series of summer specials to the coast. "It's terrific," said the Countdown presenter. "It's a very great honour in my capacity as Yorkshireman of the Year to flag off this great machine.

"It's just great that it's now safe in Yorkshire. It's wonderful that it's keeping the tradition going and all these Yorkshire people clubbed together to secure its future."

On the trip to Scarborough there was not a bridge, road or level-crossing that was not lined with steam fans smiling, waving and taking pictures of the 81-year-old 135-tonne locomotive.

The steam specials to Scarborough will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until August 31.

Public donations of £425,000, a gift of £365,000 from Sir Richard Branson and £1.8 million from the Heritage Memorial Fund secured the future of the loco for the National Railway Museum, York.

Alan and Christine Stewart, 58 and 57 respectively, are members of the Flying Scotsman Supporters' Club and travelled from Foulden, on the Scottish borders, for the trip.

"I used to go when I was a young lad with my dad on a Friday night to see Flying Scotsman coming into Waverley station," said Mr Stewart.

"We used to get a Mars bar and get the early morning Saturday paper. It was the highlight of the week. I always promised myself I'd go on the Flying Scotsman.

"We've been to the National Railway Museum to see Mallard this morning. They're both wonderful treasures of a bygone age. It's wonderful that it's been saved for the nation. We all contributed funds, although maybe not as much as Richard Branson."

Brian Taylor, from Penistone, travelled with his wife, Sylvia, for the occasion. He said: "It's such an important piece of history. It would have been such a shame if it had gone abroad."

Joan Murphy, strategy manager at the National Rail Museum, said about 470 people climbed aboard the train for the inaugural Scarborough trip and tickets were selling fast for lunchtime trips.

Updated: 10:22 Wednesday, July 21, 2004