Flying Scotsman on London King's Cross to York run Published duration 25 February 2016

media caption Aerial footage shows the locomotive racing north on its way to York, where crowds greeted the train

One of the world's most famous locomotives has completed its inaugural run after a decade-long, £4.2m refit.

The Flying Scotsman made the journey from London King's Cross to York, where it will go on display at the National Railway Museum (NRM).

It arrived in York about 13.20 GMT, almost an hour later than expected, after it was twice held up by reports of trespassers.

The engine, which retired from service in 1963, has been restored for the NRM.

Former MP turned TV presenter Michael Portillo said: "This is certainly the most famous journey and most famous locomotive in Britain."

media caption Video courtesy of Ryan Allen

image copyright PA image caption The Flying Scotsman passed over the Digswell Viaduct near Welwyn Garden City on its inaugural run from London to York

image copyright PA

image copyright PA

image copyright PA image caption Flying Scotsman passing through Potters Bar

The first disruption happened at about 09:00 near St Neots when the train was brought to a standstill while British Transport Police cleared the lines after reports of around 60 people on the track. No arrests were made.

Network Rail said the number of people on the trackside had caused "safety concerns" and resulted in a number of services, including Flying Scotsman, having to slow down."

The train was halted a second time north of Doncaster following reports of trespassers on the track which were later found to be false.

media caption Flying Scotsman: Guard shouts at trespassers as train halted near St Neots

image caption The locomotive's journey was halted for about five minutes by people trying to see the Flying Scotsman

image copyright Graham Eva

Crowds gathered at King's Cross for its scheduled departure at 07:40 and thousands lined the route, while some of the 297 passengers paid up to £450 for a ticket to travel on the train.

Among the passengers was 83-year-old Ron Kennedy, from Leigh-on-Sea, in Essex, who drove Flying Scotsman from 1956 until it was retired in 1963.

He said "It's unbelievable. I never dreamt about being on it again. To be out with it is just fantastic."

image copyright National Railway Museum image caption Huge crowds gathered at York station to see the locomotive arrive

image copyright PA image caption The Flying Scotsman left King's Cross at 07:40 GMT to begin its journey to York

NRM director, Paul Kirkman, said the restoration project was a "long old journey" but added that it was "incredibly satisfying" to see the locomotive returned to service.

The locomotive undertook a series of test runs through Cumbria and Lancashire earlier this year.

Flying Scotsman

image copyright PA

Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, Flying Scotsman emerged from Doncaster Works on 24 February 1923

The British Empire Exhibition in 1924 made Flying Scotsman famous

In 1934, Scotsman was clocked at 100mph - officially the first locomotive to have reached that speed. But some claim City of Truro was the first steam engine to break the 100mph record, in 1904, when it apparently reached a speed of 102mph running down a slope

It is 70ft (21m) long, weighs about 96 tonnes and had a top speed of 100mph

It has travelled approximately 2,500,000 miles

During World War Two it was repainted wartime black

By 1995 it was part-owned by record producer Pete Waterman

The engine was bought for the nation in 2004 by the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York using £415,000 in public donations, a £365,000 gift from Sir Richard Branson and a £1.8m grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund