FLYING Scotsman fever has struck West Somerset with the arrival of the world’s most iconic steam engine.

Locomotive No. 60103 quietly arrived under her own steam toward the end of the week to prepare for a fortnight’s visit with the West Somerset Railway (WSR) which begins officially on Thursday (June 26).

The legendary engine will be on static display at Bishops Lydeard Station on Thursday and again on Friday, with hour-long viewing sessions priced at £20.

From Saturday, the Flying Scotsman will start hauling services on the 20-mile heritage line between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard – but the first three journeys have already sold out.

The WSR said four excursions a day will be operated with one leg behind the Flying Scotsman and the other pulled by a home fleet steam engine.

Sunday’s first two journeys are also sell-outs, as is the first one of the day on Monday, and the three final day time journeys on the last day of the locomotive’s stay on July 12, such is the excitement around her first visit since 2017.

The visit forms part of the WSR’s celebration of the national Railway 200, which marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway.

WSR general manager Kerry Noble said: “We are extremely excited to welcome back Flying Scotsman to the West Somerset Railway this year.

“It has been a well-kept secret, and we are really pleased to be able to share this with the public.

“We are looking forward to welcoming the locomotive and our visitors back for this truly special event.”

The WSR is offering a number of different Flying Scotsman experiences, including an evening fish and chip service which is fully sold out, five evening afternoon tea services, two of which are sold out and one has only limited tickets left, an evening Quantock Belle dining service, daytime only excursions, evening only, as well as the static displays, which include a cream tea and an opportunity to stand on the engine’s footplate.

Passengers have been told they must arrive at Bishops Lydeard Station 45 minutes before departure time, where there will be a pop-up shop and buffet in a marquee for travellers to purchase gifts and snacks.

A WSR spokesperson said tickets for all Flying Scotsman journeys during the two weeks had to be pre-booked.

The spokesperson said: “They are not normal service trains, so standard fares do not apply.

“We expect trains to be very close to capacity if not fully booked so if you miss your train, it will be very unlikely we would be able to find you a space on another.

“There will be no discounts available on and for Flying Scotsman charter trains.

“Your Flying Scotsman ticket permits one single trip behind the Flying Scotsman and one trip behind a home fleet locomotive between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead stations.

“Your journeys will be specified on your ticket and will be valid for those journeys only.

“This ticket is not valid on any other Flying Scotsman hauled services during the day or event.”