THE WORLD’S most famous locomotive is set to steam into Swanage this spring.

The Flying Scotsman will visit Swanage Railway for 20 days between Friday, March 22 and Wednesday, April 10.

It will haul five seven-carriage trains a day from Swanage to Corfe Castle and Norden between March 22 and March 26.

Then between March 27, and April 10, it will go on display at Corfe Castle station.

Members of the public will only be able to access the stations and view the train while it’s on display via ticket only.

Behind the Flying Scotsman will be a late 1940s Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage – known as Car 14 – that dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers rescued from San Francisco in 2007 where it was being used as a company boardroom.

Between 1969 and 1972, the Flying Scotsman ran with the Devon Belle Car 14 in the United States of America during a tour of the country aimed at promoting British exports.

However, the company running the tour went bankrupt with the Flying Scotsman returned to the UK while the Pullman observation carriage remained in the USA.

It will be the first time the Flying Scotsman and the Devon Belle Pullman carriage have operated together in almost 50 years.

Mick Gould, Swanage Railway volunteer, said “The trustees, directors, staff and dedicated volunteers of the Swanage Railway are delighted that the Railway has been successful in its bid to host Flying Scotsman.

“We are extremely grateful to the National Railway Museum for giving the Swanage Railway the opportunity to host such a unique and historic event to operate and display the world famous Flying Scotsman which is such an icon.”

Trevor Parsons, Swanage Railway Trust trustee and company chairman, said: "Flying Scotsman' last visited the Swanage Railway in 1994 – when it only hauled trains to Harman's Cross – so it's very exciting that No. 60103 will be hauling trains all the way to Corfe Castle and Norden."

The Flying Scotsman cost £7,944 to build and was completed in 1923 by the London and North Eastern Railway.

During a test run in 1934, the Nigel Gresley-designed Flying Scotsman was the first steam locomotive in the UK to haul a train at 100 miles an hour.