TODAY (Thursday) the world-famous locomotive Flying Scotsman is due to steam into the Westcountry prior to a weekend which will see it running through Cornwall for the very first time.

This afternoon’s trip, organised through rail tour operator Steam Dreams, will involve the 1923 Sir Nigel Gresley-designed engine hauling passengers from Taunton to Plymouth, while journeys on Monday (October 8) will see the celebrity locomotive heading back to Exeter and then Bristol.

However, Saturday (October 6) will see the locomotive crossing the Royal Albert Bridge into South East Cornwall with both a morning trip to Penzance and an extra early evening special to Par.

Saltash, St Germans, Menheniot, Liskeard, Bodmin Parkway and Lostwithiel are all communities along the route.

Meanwhile, there has been a change to the locomotive that will be double-heading the special passenger trains during the Westcountry visit – plus warnings to the public from Steam Dreams, Network Rail and British Transport Police for enthusiasts not to stray onto the tracks when taking photographs.

Such are the concerns following past incidents with trespassers during the famous Scotsman’s previous mainline runs elsewhere in the country that the authorities have tried to keep precise timings under wraps.

Find out more in this week’s Cornish Times, in shops from tomorrow (Friday)