THE first steam locomotive to reach 100mph is returning to Taunton.

The Flying Scotsman will travel from Taunton Station to Plymouth for the first time since its restoration.

It will leave Taunton on Thursday, October 4, at 4.30pm, taking in the waterfront stretch along the Exe Estuary, past Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, Teignmouth and the shores of the Teign Estuary, before passing through Newton Abbot, skirting the Southern edge of Dartmoor, and heading to Plymouth.

Tickets are available for the journey in one of four classes, returning diesel-hauled to Taunton.

The Flying Scotsman will then travel from Plymouth to Penzance on a sold-out trip, before returning to Plymouth for the additional trip to Par on Saturday, October 6, leaving Plymouth at approximately 5pm.

Crossing the Tamar Bridge, at Saltash, Flying Scotsman will be double-headed with fellow LNER locomotive BI Class 61306, Mayflower, on a trip that is timed to allow dining passengers to have dinner on the train.

Passengers in Pullman Style Dining and Premier Dining will be served champagne and canapés followed by an evening meal. Passengers will then return diesel-hauled to Plymouth.

On Monday, October 8, Flying Scotsman and Mayflower will journey north from Plymouth to Exeter, taking in the dramatic estuary and coastline leg, before boarding new passengers at Exeter on the final phase of the West Country tour, taking passengers on to Bristol, diesel hauled.

Marcus Robertson, founder of Steam Dreams, which is running the excursions, said: "It really should be the most fantastic celebration of an icon of British engineering.

"Wherever the locomotive has been, the crowds have come out in amazing numbers.

"It goes without saying that in planning these trips we will be working with the British Transport Police and station staff to ensure that while we really want people to see the loco, we want them to do so safely and lawfully.”

Jim Lowe, head of operations at the National Railway Museum, said: “In the past two years, Flying Scotsman has been seen by thousands of people as we embarked on a national tour of heritage railways and scenic main line routes across the UK.

“This will be an exciting experience for everyone and even in the days of steam, a visiting London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) locomotive such as Flying Scotsman would have been a rare sight, so I’m sure this special locomotive will receive a warm welcome.”

David Buck, owner of Steam Dreams added: “Flying Scotsman is synonymous with world records.

"It was the first steam locomotive to reach 100 mph in 1934 and then set the record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive when it ran 422 miles in 1989."

For details about tickets contact the booking office on 01483-209888.