It was once the fastest locomotive in the UK.

But the near century-old Flying Scotsman is struggling to keep up with modern trains and drivers of the iconic steam engine fear her time on mainline tracks could be numbered.

As she whistles down the route from Preston to Carlisle, it is clear that there is no better way to see Great Britain than on the footplate of one of the world’s most famous locomotives.

But maxing a speed of 75mph Flying Scotsman is forced to draw to a stop more than once on the West Coast line to allow faster modern trains to overtake her.

The Flying Scotsman, which was built in Doncaster in 1923 was the first locomotive in the UK to reach 100mph on a special test run, in 1934.