The Flying Scotsman is coming.

The most famous steam locomotive in the world is to visit the Swanage Railway this spring.

Owned by the National Railway Museum in York, the iconic A3 class locomotive – completed in 1923 by the London and North Eastern Railway – will be on the Purbeck heritage railway for 20 days from Friday, March 22 to Wednesday, April 10.

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During a test run in 1934, the Nigel Gresley-designed Flying Scotsman was the first steam locomotive in the United Kingdom to haul a train at 100 miles an hour.

Coupled behind No. 60103 Flying Scotsman will be a late 1940s Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage – known as Car 14 – that dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers rescued from San Francisco in 2007 where it was being used as a company boardroom.

It was between 1969 and 1972 that Flying Scotsman ran with the Car 14 in America during a tour aimed at promoting British exports. Sadly, the company running the tour went bankrupt with Flying Scotsman being returned home but the Pullman observation carriage remaining.

Swanage Railway volunteer Mick Gould – Swanage Railway Company business division director and chairman of the No. 60103 Steering Group – said: “The trustees, directors, staff and dedicated volunteers of the Swanage Railway are delighted that the railway has been successful in its bid to host ‘Flying Scotsman’.

“We are extremely grateful to the National Railway Museum for giving the Swanage Railway the opportunity to host such a unique and historic event to operate and display the world famous ‘Flying Scotsman’ which is such an icon.

“It will be the first time is almost 50 years that No. 60103 and the unique Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage – known as Car 14 – will operate together since they ran as a pair across the USA between 1969 and 1972."

The locomotive will be hauling five seven-carriage trains a day from Swanage to Corfe Castle and Norden for five days from March 22-26.

It will then spend 15 days on display at Corfe Castle station coupled to Car 14.

Swanage Railway Company chairman Trevor Parsons explained: "With uniformed attendants serving champagne and canapés to passengers on board the Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage, Car 14 will be coupled directly behind 'Flying Scotsman' when it hauls trains on the Swanage Railway.

"That will give Pullman passengers a rare chance to enjoy the delights of travelling in style behind the world's most famous steam locomotive as it travels through the beautiful Purbeck countryside."