CROWDS are set to descend on Worcester’s Shrub Hill station this weekend as one of the world’s most famous steam locomotives visits the city.

The Flying Scotsman was originally meant to have rolled into the station on Saturday February 19, pulling steam train The Cotswold Venturer.

But heavy rain and strong winds brought by Storm Eunice caused widespread disruption on the country’s railways and the Flying Scotsman's journey to Worcester was among thousands cancelled.

Tour operator The Railway Touring Company was quick to rearrange the trip, which is described as a scenic rail tour and will take in views of the Cotswolds on its way to Shrub Hill.

It is due to leave London Paddington at 7.15am and although there is no expected time of arrival on The Railway Touring Company’s website, the cancelled trip in February had been scheduled to arrive in Worcester at 11.20am.

On the way to Worcester it will pick up more passengers from Slough, Reading and Dicot before continuing through Oxford and onto the Cotswold Line at Wolvercote Junction, passing through Finstock, Charlbury and Ascott-under-Wychwood.

Continuing its journey through the Cotswolds, it will pass through Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh before heading down Honeybourne Bank to Evesham and on to Shrub Hill.

Picturesque

Passengers, who will enjoy fine dining on board, will be given time to explore Worcester before their train departs in the late afternoon.

They will take a different journey back to London Paddington.

At the Abbots Wood Junction it will join the ex-Midland Railway route to Bristol then head south to Cheltenham, joining the Golden Valley route at Standish Junction.

Its return journey will take in the picturesque Stroud Valley and Sapperton Tunnel, through Kemble to Swindon where it will join the ex-Great Western Main Line.

When the Flying Scotsman was here in 2019 it was held in the sidings for some of the day but did spend some time at the platform, giving onlookers the chance to get a good look at the engine and inside the carriages.