Hundreds of steam locomotive enthusiasts descended on the East Lancashire Railway last weekend as the flagship Royal Scot ran on the line.

As part of the Spring Steam Gala spectacle, the 1927 locomotive ran between Bury and Rawtenstall on Saturday (February 26) morning.

The Royal Scot, photographed here at Irwell Vale, was constructed in the early 20th century for the London Scottish and Midland Railway company, operating the fastest services on the West Coast from London to Manchester and Glasgow.

After being renumbered 46100 from her original 6100 in 1948, the train was rebuilt by British Railways in 1950 with a new tapered design boiler.

It went on to serve another 12 years in traffic on the West Coast Main Line before being retired from service in Nottingham in October 1962.

The locomotive briefly returned at Bressingham Steam Museum from 1972 to 1978 and again in 2009, but spent most of the time as a static exhibit.

In September 2015, the Royal Scot truly returned to steam after a six year overhaul at LNWR Heritage.

Following testing in late 2015 she made a return to the mainline in February 2016 on a journey from Crewe to Holyhead.