Flying Scotsman in Shropshire: Watch 360-degree video of the iconic engine

The words of excited passengers, Michael and Anita Mears, who boarded Flying Scotsman as it made its highly-anticipated arrival at The Severn Valley Railway.

Mobile users: Click here to see the video in 360 degrees. Note: Requires YouTube app

More than 15,000 people are expected to take a trip on the impressive locomotive over the next five days – which started with a VIP Charity Day yesterday.

As steam filled the air, excitement built on Platform 1 as keen spectators awaited its arrival back from its morning journey shortly before 11am.

Flying Scotsman returned to the SVR for the first time in 22 years after a £4.2 million restoration earlier this year.

Passengers dressed in-keeping with the 1930s heritage theme, with feather bowers, bowler hats and sequinned evening gowns.

For a full gallery of images and a video from yesterday's VIP charity day, click here

Vivian Findlay and Rhian Garbett-Edwards had travelled from Droitwich with work colleagues to experience the thrill.

Mrs Findlay, aged 60, wore a purple dress with elegant art deco jewellery.

She said: "Flying Scotsman is the most famous locomotive in the world and everyone has heard of it. This will be something that we won't be able to do again and we can't wait to get on board and mingle with people and see all the different outfits.

"We decided that we were going to go all out and be specially dressed for the occasion so we went and got dress fittings as we wanted to recreate the glamour of it. It's not every day of the week you get the chance to do this."

Ms Garbett-Edwards, aged 60, spoke of the nostalgia.

She added: "Everyone wants to feel part of that by-gone era today and what a better way to do that than by boarding Flying Scotsman.

"With television shows such as Downtown Abbey bringing the past back too; it's no wonder that an event like this is so popular."

Three sisters from Oxfordshire had also made the trip to Kidderminster for belated birthday celebrations.

Sue Grant, aged 60, said: "Me and my sisters Lesley and Gillian went around charity shops to find vintage clothing to dress up today. There's just something about steam and the nostalgia it brings and we thought this would be the perfect way to celebrate my birthday. Flying Scotsman was just an opportunity we couldn't miss."

The locomotive was designed by Nigel Gresley for the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) and was built in 1923 at Doncaster Railway Works.

It hauled the first ever non-stop London to Edinburgh service in May 1928, completing the journey in eight hours and 15 minutes.

It was the first steam locomotive to be officially recorded to reach 100mph in November 1934 and even starred in the film 'The Flying Scotsman' in 1929.

Columb Howell, founder member of the SVR, drove the locomotive on the railway in 1990.

He brought a selection of old photographs with him from the day.

He said: "I remember pulling into Kidderminster and children were watching, so we let them come up on the footplate. One four-year-old sat in the driver's seat and I didn't have the heart to move him. It was a large engine but it was not a worry for me at all – steam is in my blood. To see it back here today is wonderful and very emotional too.

The 73-year-old from Kidderminster, added: "Nothing is better than the sound of a steam train pulling into the station.

"As a founder member we have had to overcome many difficulties but moments like this make it all worhwhile."

Deb Hipkiss, aged 49, from Wolverhampton said: "This is something we have waited for all year. To see it pull into the station was great, but to go on board I'm sure will be even better."

The first 7,000 tickets for the Pacific Power event, which sees Tornado and Flying Scotsman together from today until Monday, sold out in just one day.

Access to the SVR's six stations is strictly controlled, with only those holding pre-booked event tickets being guaranteed access to platforms.