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In August 1845, Scarborough welcomed its first ever tourists to
arrive by train, an event that was the beginning of a remarkably
long 'holiday love affair' with the town.
More than a century and a half later, the world's most famous steam
locomotive, Flying Scotsman, lead the celebrations to mark the anniversary
of the event, which shaped the history of Scarborough as one of
the UK's most popular seaside resorts.
A visual treat was in store for travellers at York Railway Station
at midday on Tuesday 9th August.
The sounds and smells of the world's most famous loco and a platform
filled with passengers wearing Victorian clothes, transported Platform
Five back to a gentler time.
The seaside holiday
Before Flying Scotsman pulled out of York, I spoke to Andrew Scott,
Head of the National Railway Museum.
"This is one of Flying Scotsman's regular excursion trips
to Scarborough which we're running for the whole of the summer.
But today is a really special day because it's the 160th anniversary
of the first excursion train to Scarborough.
"Of course, back in the 1840s there weren't any cars, before
that time Scarborough was a resort, but only if you were very, very
rich could you get there.
"What happened in 1845 was that this wonderful new, cheap,
accessible form of transport that working people could afford to
use starting running excursion trains to the seaside.
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| Celebrating
the Victorian seaside break |
"This created the whole tradition of the Yorkshire trip to
Scarborough, that spread all over the country with people going
to the seaside every year. So it was a really important event when
that happened. Here we are 160 years later and we're still doing
it!"
Where once it had only been a playground for the rich and privileged,
almost overnight it was possible for ordinary people to escape to
the seaside.
Celebrating Flying Scotsman
One hundred and sixty years ago, more than 15,000 people turned
out for the opening of the York to Scarborough railway line. Residents
lined the streets of Scarborough, to be serenaded by singers and
entertained by brass bands.
Celebrating Flying Scotsman
Today the bands were out in force again and every seat on the train
was taken. On the platform hundreds of well wishers turned out -
the waving and photograph taking was incessant.
Jim Rees the NRM's rail vehicle collection manager says there's
one reason the Scotsman is so popular:
"Because it was the first locomotive to be measures scientifically
and fully certified as going 100 miles per hour and it appeared
at the exhibition in 1924 and it became very, very famous.
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| York
Railway Station celebrates Flying Scotsman |
"Over the past 40 years, it has been to America, to Australia,
its fame just keeps growing. Last year, with the threat of it going
abroad, and being lost because it was privately owned. Now it's
owned by the nation here at the NRM so it's here for everyone to
enjoy."
Along the 42-mile route to the coast, passengers received flags
and seaside rock from staff dressed in period costume. And at every
point on the journey, where it was possible for people to get near
the train and wave, they did. From the roadside, from river banks
from field edges - flags and hands saluted the train and the people
within it.
Just like his predecessor 160 years ago, the Mayor of the Borough
of Scarborough, Councillor Derek Bastiman was at Scarborough Station
to welcome Flying Scotsman and its passengers.
"As ever, it's an exciting time for Scarborough to receive
Flying Scotsman. The opening of the line 160 years ago was an absolute
boon to the holiday trade and access into the borough. It's a wonderful
sight to see in full steam so it's a pleasure to welcome her back
to Scarborough."
Andrew Barton
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