ICONIC steam locomotive Flying Scotsman’s arrived in Barrow on December 12 in 1977 for a restoration project and this is how the event was recorded in The Mail.

It noted: “A 140-ton thoroughbred of the steam age was eased and inched over the tortuous curves into the Vickers works at Barrow today to undergo a major operation.

“The Flying Scotsman, the famous former LNER super Pacific, is to have a new boiler fitted, and her arrival at the engineering works was watched by scores of enthusiasts and photographers along Ferry Road .

“The locomotive arrived at Barrow under its own steam, but after gaining Vickers’ private sidings via Devonshire Bridge had to be hoisted by the works 250-ton crane on to the tracks leading to the boiler shop.

“She is the first steam locomotive to be handled by the firm for over half-a- century, but the engineering skills required of Flying Scotsman are basic to the boilermaking trades.

“The old boiler is to be replaced by an unused one from a sister locomotive now scrapped and other boiler repairs will also be carried out.

“Now located at Steamtown, Car nforth, Flying Scotsman was one of a whole class of locomotives which worked LNER and later British Railways Eastern Region expresses although the very first of the class was delivered to the Great Northern Railway just before it became part of the LNER.

“The work on the locomotive at Barrow is likely to take a few weeks.”

As a reminder of Barrow’s role in keeping this famous old locomotive running, a plaque was fixed saying “refurbished by Vickers Barrow Engineering Works 1978.”