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.  | | 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.  | | 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
» Listen to Andrew's report for BBC Radio York
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