Flying Scotsman will not be passing through Northampton today as hoped

The Flying Scotsman as it steamed through Wellingborough earlier this month.

Steam enthusiasts hoping to see the Flying Scotsman in Northampton today have been left disappointed after a tour company changed the route this week.

The newly-restored train was due to pull into Northampton at 11.40am today, before carrying passengers on the first leg of a nine day tour of Ireland.

However the tour company running the £1,700-a-ticket trip has had to divert to Crewe instead of Northampton today due to difficulties with the train line.

Chairman of Steam Dreams, Marcus Robertson, said: “There has been a reluctance by our train Operating Company, West Coast, to run steam, particularly Flying Scotsman, on the East and West Coast mainlines this year.

“We had hoped to use Flying Scotsman from Northampton one way to Holyhead but in the end have agreed for it to come on at Crewe and do the Crewe to Holyhead section in both directions, which is of course the scenic part of the route along the lovely North Wales Coast and across Anglesey.”

The Flying Scotsman only took over at Crewe with a diesel in charge until then.

Steam Dreams claims they were only told of the need for a change a few days ago.

But Northamptonshire folk will get another chance to see the Flying Scotsman when it steams through Wellingborough, Kettering, Corby, Gretton and then onto Melton Mowbray on Saturday, June 25.

The provisional times are:

- leave Kettering at 9.40am

- Corby at 9.50am

- Gretton at 9.55am

- Welland Viaduct at 10am

- Manton at 10.05am

- Oakham at 10.10am

- Melton Mowbray at 10.25am