A YORK rail enthusiast today urged the Government to step in to save The Flying Scotsman for Britain.

John Rathmell said any attempt to take the world's most famous steam loco abroad should be blocked by an export ban.

He said the Scotsman was as important an icon to Britain as paintings which have been saved for the nation in the past.

Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh has agreed to take his plea up with the relevant Government minister, probably Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell.

She said many rail enthusiasts would like to see the Scotsman's future safeguarded by the National Rail Museum (NRM) in York, although she had reservations about any public money being used on this rather than improving current rail services.

Alarm over the future of the steam loco was raised last week by reports that its owners, Flying Scotsman PLC, was losing money and had held talks over the possibility of auctioning the engine.

It was suggested it might end up at a Japanese or American theme park.

The NRM said then that it was closely monitoring the future of Britain's most famous steam loco.

Head of museum Andrew Scott said that in broad terms, the museum would be "more than happy" to have the engine - which he described as a national icon - as part of its national collection in York.

But he stressed he did not have any evidence that there was any overseas interest in buying it.

The Flying Scotsman was a regular York visitor when it ran from London to Scotland from 1923 to 1963. The first steam train to notch up an official speed of 100mph fell into private hands after being pulled from service. Mr Rathmell, of Rawcliffe, who has items of memorabilia from the Scotsman, including part of the original headboard, said he would prefer the NRM acquire it rather than lose it abroad.

But he felt it was very important that the train was not just "mothballed", and it continued to go on trips several times a year. Transport Minister Kim Howells said he would welcome representations on the future of the famous train.

He said: "Where we have seen engines that are correctly maintained they are objects of great beauty.

They make the exhibits for the Turner Prize look pale in comparison. "We have to be careful to preserve our industrial heritage in the same way we preserve our artistic heritage."

Updated: 10:53 Thursday, December 04, 2003