EAGER rail fans queued round the block to get a first glimpse of some of the country's most famous steam icons in York.

Visitors were queueing at the National Rail Museum (NRM) from 10am today as RailFest - a celebration of 200 years of rail travel - got under way.

During the nine-day festival, record-breakers and history-makers from the history of rail will be on show including City of Truro, Olton Hall, star of the Harry Potter films, and the world's only working replicas of Rocket and Penydarren - the very first steam locomotives.

There was much anticipation among those waiting in line to see the first day's action at the NRM.

Toby Oliver, five, from Banbury, said he was most looking forward to seeing City of Truro.

His dad, Nick, said: "Toby loves trains. He's been looking forward to RailFest for ages. He's given me a great excuse to go."

Ian James, 37, of York, said: "I'm very interested in steam engines. There should be some interesting examples to see."

But rail enthusiasts who came to York to watch the triumphant arrival of Flying Scotsman were left disappointed after the ceremony was scrapped due to a technical fault.

The locomotive was supposed to steam into the city today with more than 400 guests and VIP's on board, including Sir Richard Branson, to mark the opening of RailFest.

But the fault rendered the locomotive immobile, meaning it had to be hauled into the city by a diesel engine yesterday evening.

Updated: 12:08 Saturday, May 29, 2004