TRAINSPOTTERS and railways enthusiasts have been warned not to risk their lives trying to photograph the world’s most famous steam locomotive when it comes through the area this month.

Flying Scotsman, the first engine to hit 100mph, will haul the luxury Northern Belle train, Britain’s answer to the Orient Express, through Newton-le-Willows on its journey from Carnforth to Crewe during the afternoon of Saturday, July 20.

Then it will reverse the route during the evening taking 300 revellers on a slap-up £300 Gala Dinner trip from Manchester back to Carnforth.

There they can dance on the station platform to the train’s resident band and pucker up under the station clock where Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson stole an illicit kiss in the classic 1940s movie Brief Encounter.

At around 3:05pm on the day, The Flying Scotsman will pass the former site of the historic Vulcan Works and will be best viewed from the Vulcan Playing Fields, or on any of the route of the Sankey Canal into Warrington

But Northern Belle managing director Jeanette Snape has pleaded with people not to trespass on the tracks or stand too near the edge of station platforms in their eagerness to get photographs.

She said: “We know this will be a big attraction – the world’s most famous engine hauling the ornately-decorated Pullman carriages of one of the world’s most luxurious trains.

“But while we want as many people as possible to see it and get photographs, we also want everybody to stay safe.

“It is extremely dangerous, as well as illegal, to trespass near the railway tracks. At best people could end up in court being fined £1,000 – at worst they could end up in the mortuary.

“So please take care and act sensibly.”

As well as breaking the 100mph record, Flying Scotsman, built at Doncaster in 1923, was the first steam engine to run non-stop between London and Edinburgh.

The Flying Scotsman hauled Northern Belle will leave Carnforth at 1.35pm and is scheduled to pass through Lancaster at 2.15pm, Preston 2.43pm, Wigan 3.02pm, Warrington 3.15pm, and Winsford at 3.55pm before arriving at Crewe at 4.05pm.

It will later make its way to Manchester Victoria via Stockport before leaving there at 6.05pm, and passing through Wigan at 6.33pm and Blackburn at 7.02pm, arriving in Carnforth at 8.30pm.

Then it is scheduled to depart Carnforth at 8.45pm and pass through Preston at 10.02pm before arriving back in Manchester at 10.52pm.

For further details see nothernbelle.co.uk or phone 01270 899681.