Flying Scotsman: The Extraordinary Story of the World's Most Famous Train

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Four years later the first major milestone in the iconic loco’s life would come, when a new tender allowing a replacement crew to enter the cabin without stopping. This cookie is used to a profile based on user's interest and display personalized ads to the users.

To mark 100 years of Flying Scotsman, Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman have created the stunning children’s book Flying Scotsman and the Best Birthday Ever. It tells the story of Iris, who dreams of being a train driver when she grows up, just like her dad, who drives Flying Scotsman. Retired from regular service in 1963 after covering 2.08 million miles, Flying Scotsman enjoyed considerable fame in preservation under the ownership of, successively, Alan Pegler, William McAlpine, Tony Marchington, and finally the National Railway Museum (NRM).

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LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman is a 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) at Doncaster Works to a design of Nigel Gresley. It was employed on long-distance express East Coast Main Line trains by the LNER and its successors, British Railways Eastern and North-Eastern Regions, notably on the London to Edinburgh Flying Scotsman train service after which it was named.

After a major overhaul in 2022, the newly-restored Flying Scotman is ready for action. 2023 marked the centenary year for this iconic steam locomotive and there were a series of events to celebrate. Apple green, 70ft long, weighing 97 tonnes, with six couple driving wheels each 6ft 8ins in diameter, she caught the eye of King George V, who made headlines by climbing on to the footplate and settling into the padded driver’s seat. Accessible toilets are available at each station, but we regret we have no “Changing Places” toilets, or accessible toilets on our trainsSee the full collection of original watercolours created for the beautiful new Flying Scotsman book, illustrated by Michael Foreman and written by Michael Morpurgo. Touring cities to promote British industry and endeavor, the Flying Scotsman at first drew in the crowds. But a second trip came off the rails when the government at home changed and decided a steam train was no longer the showcase for Britian they wanted as the jet-set 1970s dawned. And in 1932 her crew made headlines when they spoke by telephone to the pilot of an Imperial Airways Heracles overhead. Originally built in Doncaster, the Scotsman launched in 1923 and was one of the most powerful locomotives used on the Railway. The locomotive set two world records for steam traction, becoming the first steam locomotive to be officially authenticated at reaching 100 miles per hour (161 km/h) on 30 November 1934, and then setting a record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive when it ran 422 miles (679 km) on 8 August 1989 while in Australia.

Michael Foreman is an internationally renowned, multi award-winning children’s book illustrator and author. He has twice won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal for British children’s book illustration. Customers with vouchers should book directly with customer services. We regret that we cannot process vouchers when booking online at this time Flying Scotsman was built in Doncaster works, the first locomotive of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) and entered service on 24 February 1923. It was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley as part of the A1 class—the most powerful locomotives used by the LNER at the time.Following the successful tour of Australia, Flying Scotsman ran special trains around Britain, including regular runs over the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway and trips hauling the prestigious Orient Express Pullman train. Most steam train trips include coach travel, a hotel stay and a journey behind the Scotsman on a heritage railway. History of the Steam Train Featuring a number of restaurant cars, an observation car, bar car and even an onboard spa car, the Royal Scotsman is like no other train in the world. With refined elegance and everything you could possibly need to make your journey as luxurious as possible, the Royal Scotsman is the most opulent way to explore Scotland in the most comfortable way possible. By 1963 the locomotive, now colored ‘British Rail Green’ was facing the end. The age of steam power was over and diesel trains were taking their place. It looked as though the Flying Scotsman had run out of rail. As well as hauling enthusiast specials in the United Kingdom, the locomotive toured extensively in the United States and Canada from 1969 until 1973 and Australia in 1988 and 1989. Flying Scotsman has been described as the world’s most famous steam locomotive.