THE Flying Scotsman will make a triumphant journey to York next month after the National Railway Museum won its battle to save the historic loco for Britain.

The world-famous attraction will become the centrepiece of the NRM's Railfest exhibition in May.

But it has not yet been decided if the train will arrive in steam at York Railway Station on the East Coast Main Line - known as the Route Of The Flying Scotsman - or make a more prosaic return, by road.

A successful bid was put forward by the museum with the help of a £1.8m grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF).

The Flying Scotsman will take its place as the jewel in the crown at the museum's celebration of 200 years of rail on May 29.

The locomotive was built at Doncaster Works in 1923. It was the first steam locomotive to officially break the 100mph barrier in 1934 and was sold into private ownership by British Rail in 1963.

An initial £365,000 was raised through the NRM's public appeal and, as pledged, Sir Richard Branson matched this on behalf of the Virgin Group. A further £60,000 donation raised the cash raised by the museum to £790,000.

A separate £500,000 from Yorkshire Forward will help to put the locomotive on display.

Andrew Scott, head of the NRM, said: "This has been a tremendous victory for the nation. There can be few national treasures capable of stirring up such passion and a will to succeed, but Flying Scotsman has certainly proved to be one of them.

Sir Richard said: "It would have been a tragedy to see such an important part of our heritage sold abroad."

Updated: 10:41 Monday, April 05, 2004