EXCITEMENT is building ahead of the arrival of the Flying Scotsman in Dorset next month.

The iconic train will visit Swanage Railway between Friday, March 22 and Wednesday, April 10.

As reported in the Daily Echo last month, the record-breaking steam locomotive will be reunited with the Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage for the first time in almost 50 years.

During its visit, Flying Scotsman will be hauling seven-carriage trains five times a day from Swanage to Corfe Castle and Norden for five days from March 22 until March 26.

On these days, a steam hauled 'feeder service' will operate between Norden and Swanage calling at Corfe Castle and Harmans Cross.

Tickets for the ‘feeder service’ are on a round-trip basis only and include access to viewing areas.

People will be able to watch the Flying Scotsman in action from the platform. Tickets cost £20 for adults and £15 for children.

For 15 days between Wednesday, March 27 and Wednesday, April 10, Flying Scotsman will go on display at Corfe Castle station along with the Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage which is known as Car 14.

Details on how to buy tickets to view the pair are set to be released over the next few weeks.

Andrew Wright, of Swanage Railway, said: “We’ve had loads of people calling and emailing wanting to know how they can get tickets. Quite obviously the Flying Scotsman is still regarded as one of the finest steam trains in the world.”

“It is still an iconic locomotive and still has a special place in people’s hearts,” he added.

Between 1969 and 1972, Flying Scotsman ran with the Devon Belle in the United States of America during a tour of the country aimed at promoting British exports before the company running the tour went bankrupt.

Flying Scotsman last visited the Swanage Railway in 1994 and, in 2017, Swanage Railway volunteers rescued the Devon Belle from San Francisco where it was being used as a company boardroom.

For more details on tickets visit swanagerailway.co.uk.