SUPPORTERS of the West Somerset Railway (WSR) have defended people being charged just to see the Flying Scotsman steam train when it visits in June and July.

The iconic locomotive will be hauling trains on the WSR line between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard during a visit which forms part of this year’s Railway 200 national celebration of the birth of the modern railway.

It will also be put on static display in Bishops Lydeard Station on several days during its stay with the WSR.

The railway is charging visitors £20 for a one-hour static display session including a cream tea, which has drawn criticism on social media.

One disgruntled user, Wendy Bodell, said: “Very disappointed.

“I would have loved to have seen it, that is all but £20 for static display, what a joke.

“Typical Westcountry rip off.

“Whenever anything visits the Westcountry we are expected to pay inflated prices, so some things just do not change.”

Trevor Houghton said it was ‘not just the WSR that charge the earth to see it’.

Mr Houghton said: “Typical Flying Scotsman hype, the WSR have other historical steam engines to love and fuss over.”

But supporter Andy Nickolls said: “While it would be nice to let anyone onto the platforms, the reality is it would not be safe or manageable.

“The cost of hosting the visit with security lineside and stations on route, etc, make it financially quite a cost to run.

“Other heritage/rail tours charge much more than WSR to ride the Flying Scotsman.”

WSR volunteer Lee Robins said: “The static display includes a cream tea, access through the Gauge Museum and a visit to the footplate of the locomotive where you will have a photo opportunity.”

The Flying Scotsman static displays will be on June 26 and 27 and July 3 to 7, 13, and 14.