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Francis Bourgeois reveals touching tribute to girlfriend as 'dream' comes true
Daily mirror | April 1, 2026 6:39 PM CST

Viral trainspotter Francis Bourgeois has opened up about the sweet way he is honouring his girlfriend after undertaking his 'biggest ever' project.

The content creator and Rolls Royce-trained engineer, 25, shot to superstardom thanks to his distinctive videos which capture his unbridled joy at spotting various trains via a head-mounted camera. His subsequent career in the spotlight has included modelling for huge fashion brands such as Gucci and he was recently unveiled as one of three new hosts for an upcoming season of The Grand Tour.

His latest project about to hit TV screens is a new series following his efforts to realise a long-standing dream: restoring a train and bringing it back into service. The project holds deep personal significance for Francis, as his great-great-uncle previously helped to save the line the Class 37 train operated on from closure back in the sixties.

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He recruits former Top Gear presenter Chris Harris to help him, with the pair kicking off their restoration journey - and cementing their friendship - by spending hours scraping the muck from four giant wheels.

The show is now just days from release, with the first episode airing on April 7 at 9pm on QUEST. A synopsis for Francis Bourgeois and Chris Harris: We Saved a Train teases: "Social media’s most famous train enthusiast teams up with petrolhead and broadcaster Chris Harris as the pair embark on an ambitious project in Scotland: helping to fulfil Francis’ lifelong dream of restoring a diesel locomotive and bringing it back into service.

"Joining a team of volunteers at the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, and with Francis investing his own money into the project, the goal is to get the locomotive running in time for its first outing - a tour to Inverness and Lochalsh."

Ahead of the show's release, Francis sat down with the Daily Mirror's Screen Time team and revealed the sweet gesture he had planned for his girlfriend, family and friends following the project's completion.

"My great-great uncle Torquil being the chairman of the Kyle Line Defence Committee, his tireless campaigning kept the Kyle Line open," he started. "Thanks to him, that meant that the 37025 which is just on the other side of this wall, worked between Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh right through the eighties."

"Once we have 37025 ready, to get it to the Kyle of Lochalsh will be the icing on the cake. The right way to celebrate its return."

Viewers will have to stay tuned to see how the restoration pans out, but Francis shared his hopes that they could get the train to do the route his ancestor fought to save - and he is saving a seat for his nearest and dearest on its very first outing.

"I'm going to ensure they [parents, girlfriend and friends] have seats on the inaugural run," he said. "There is a chance that we might not be able to get to Kyle of Lochalsh, but we're still pushing for it."

Francis Bourgeois and Chris Harris: We Saved a Train will be available to watch on QUEST from April 7 at 9pm. New episodes will air weekly.


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