The Flying Scotsman - A Brief History

The Flying Scotsman is one of the most famous locomotives in history. This great train made her first public appearance in 1923, having cost nearly £8,000 to build - a fair sum at the time.

The locomotive was soon to gather fame, particularly following her first record-breaking exploit - in 1928. On the 1st of May that year, the Flying Scotsman became the first locomotive to travel non-stop from London (Kings Cross) to Edinburgh (Waverley), completing the distance in slightly more than 8 hours.

In 1934 she was the first train recorded doing a speed of more than 100 miles per hour, achieved on a stretch of railway between Leeds and London.

She continued in full service until 1963, by which time the Flying Scotsman had completed journeys totalling more than 2 million miles.

The train's history then takes on an international flavour - transported to the United States in the late 1960s, her toursuffered from financing problems and she remained stranded there for some time, before being returned to the UK and being used on a more occasional basis. A successful tour of Australia was to follow.

In 1995 she was withdrawn from service for a second time but was restored and, by 1999, was back making a journey from Kings Cross to York.

2004 saw more financial problems and upheaval though, with the world's most famous locomotive being put up for sale. On 29 May 2004 she was secured for the nation and arrived at the National Railway Museum.

We also have related articles on model railways and Hornby Railways.