FLYING SCOTSMAN DRAWS BRIGG AREA CROWDS

Flying Scotman at Elsham this morning - Saturday, June 11 - at the head of the Railway Touring Company's  Tynesider excursion from Cleethorpes, Grimsby Town, Barnetby and Scunthorpe to Newcastle. Picture on Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog 

Many people from the Brigg area, ranging from young children to pensioners, turned out today to see world famous steam locomotive Flying Scotsman in North Lincolnshire (Saturday, June 11).
Huge interest was created by the appearance of the preserved 1920s express loco heading a charter train from Cleethorpes to Newcastle, which picked up passengers in Grimsby, Barnetby and Scunthorpe.
The loco arrived in Barnetby yesterday and journeyed to the resort's terminus station early this morning to couple up to its rake of heritage carriages.
Today's special excursion, which sold out, was organised by the Railway Touring Company.
Brigg Blog joined the crowds at Elsham level crossing to catch a glimpse of the Flying Scotsman as she headed through the village station, which closed in the early 1990s. Just a few stretches of brickwork show where the buildings once stood.
Elsham signalbox is now shut and boarded up, while the wooden level crossing gates have gone. Today's trains are controlled remotely from York. 
Modernisation meant it was no longer possible to see the Scotsman passing traditional lever-controlled semaphore signals, which were such a feature of the Great Age of Steam.
British Railways withdrew its last steam locos from North Lincolnshire depots in 1966.

Crowds watch Flying Scotman at Elsham this morning - Saturday, June 11 - at the head of the Railway Touring Company's  Tynesider excursion from Cleethorpes, Grimsby Town, Barnetby and Scunthorpe to Newcastle. Picture on Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog 

Enthusiasts waiting patiently for a glimpse of the  Flying Scotman at Elsham this morning - Saturday, June 11 - at the head of the Railway Touring Company's  Tynesider excursion from Cleethorpes, Grimsby Town, Barnetby and Scunthorpe to Newcastle. Picture on Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog

Prior to the arrival of the Flying Scotman at Elsham this morning - Saturday, June 11, this local train from Cleethorpes to Scunthorpe, Doncaster and Manchester arrived. Picture on Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog 

Prior to the arrival of the Flying Scotman at Elsham this morning - Saturday, June 11, this TransPennine service from Cleethorpes to Scunthorpe, Doncaster and Manchester arrived. Picture on Nigel Fisher's Brigg Blog 

Just after the Flying Scotsman came through Elsham, this Scunthorpe-bound iron ore train passed over the level crossing  - Saturday, July 11, 2016

No signalman to give a cheery wave to passengers on the special train hauled by the Flying Scotman today, as signals and the level crossing are now controlled from York.