WORKERS at York's National Railway Museum are staying on the right track as they continue the painstaking task of restoring Flying Scotsman to its former glory.

The iconic engine is due for a return to the rails in spring 2009 following a £750,000 revamp which has seen it stripped bare in the museum's workshop.

This is how Flying Scotsman looks at the moment - but chief engineer Rod Lytton says all the hard graft will be worth it.

"We have to make it as authentic as we possibly can and ensure it looks as good as it did in its heyday," he said.

"To the uninitiated, it probably looks like a pile of parts at the moment, but work is going well and there will be a real sense of achievement when it is finished."

The work, which began in January 2006 and aims to keep the locomotive running for another decade, is on show to museum visitors.

Meanwhile, time is running out for railway buffs to bid for the chance to ignite Flying Scotsman's fire and be on the footplate during its test run once it is fully restored.

The museum and TopLots, a specialist heritage fundraising auction on eBay, are offering the online opportunity to boost the coffers of the Keep Scotsman Steaming Appeal.

Bidding, which started at £500, has now reached £1,220 and the auction ends on Sunday. To bid, log on to www.ebay.co.uk/toplots