Dive into the extraordinary journey of Flying Scotsman, the world-famous steam locomotive with its record-breaking speeds and remarkable engineering feats. From its first authenticated sprint at 100 mph to its changing appearance, discover the stories that have cemented its status as an iconic symbol of railway heritage. Join us as we explore five intriguing facts that reveal the enduring legacy and captivating history of Flying Scotsman.
Table of Contents
- It Originally Cost Just £7,944!
- It Was The First locomotive In The UK To Reach An Authenticated 100mph
- Flying Scotsman Has Undergone Extensive Repairs and Restorations
- The First Non-Stop Run From London To Edinburgh
- The Many Colours Of Flying Scotsman
The world-famous Flying Scotsman has recently celebrated its centenary with special events, heritage railway trips, and museum fun! In 2024, the celebrations continue as we reach 100 years of the naming of Flying Scotsman, the moment a steam locomotive captured the hearts of the British public and solidified itself as an icon of British engineering.
We’d like to celebrate by sharing 5 of our favourite facts about this beloved locomotive;
It Originally Cost Just £7,944!
Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 at Doncaster Works, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley as part of the A1 class, the most powerful locomotives used by the LNER at that time. Although the sum of £7,944 may seem modest today, it is equivalent to roughly £406,000 in today’s money!
Once Flying Scotsman was acquired by the National Railway Museum (NRM) in 2004, it received a further investment of £4.5 million to restore it to its former glory, which included a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £275,000.
Today, Flying Scotsman is both a working museum exhibit and ambassador for the National Railway Museum; a testament to their ongoing efforts to preserve Britain’s rich railway heritage for future generations.
It Was The First locomotive In The UK To Reach An Authenticated 100mph
In 1934, Flying Scotsman was clocked at 100mph on a special test run from Leeds to London—officially the first locomotive in the UK to reach that speed.
The test run demonstrated to the LNER’s directors that steam power could achieve the necessary high speeds, eliminating the need for diesel power for their high-speed services. The primary objective was to haul heavy trains at speed. Although diesel and electric trains were faster at this point, electric trains were costly due to the required infrastructure, and diesel trains lacked the power to haul the heavy UK trains.
Flying Scotsman Has Undergone Extensive Repairs and Restorations
Throughout its lifetime, Flying Scotsman has gone through extensive repairs, changes, and renovations, which have kept this icon of steam accessible to all, across the globe.
Such works have meant the renewal and refurbishment of components throughout the locomotive, with the most recent overhaul being the most comprehensive ever undertaken on Flying Scotsman.
How much of Flying Scotsman is original? It largely depends on the definition of “original.” If “original” refers to parts made by the LNER or BR and fitted to Flying Scotsman during their ownership, then most of the locomotive is original. No locomotive retains all its original parts from when it was first built, so the concept of originality is somewhat misleading. Flying Scotsman is neither more nor less original than other locomotives of its age, making the question of originality less significant!
However, the name ‘Flying Scotsman’ continues to live on, through the romance and associations built up through over a century of history that it continues to write.
The First Non-Stop Run From London To Edinburgh
After Flying Scotsman was unveiled to the public at the British Empire Exhibition’s Palace of Engineering in Wembley from 1924-1925, the name Flying Scotsman (along with its new number ‘4472’) was chosen to advertise the company’s service from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley of the same name.
A mix of five A1 and A3 locomotives, including Flying Scotsman, was selected for the same service. It hauled the inaugural train on 1 May 1928, completing the journey of 392 miles (631 km) in 8 hours and 3 minutes.
The non-stop runs were achieved with an upgraded tender fitted with a corridor connection, so a change of driver and fireman could take place while the train was moving.
Flying Scotsman still holds the world record for a non-stop run in a steam locomotive, set in 1989 with a 422-mile trip across Australia.
The Many Colours Of Flying Scotsman
During the Second World War, Flying Scotsman was painted in black, in common with most railway stock. After the war, it was repainted in LNER green livery, with black and red trim and was rebuilt as an A3 Pacific.
In 1948, British Railways was formed and rail travel in Britain was nationalised. Scotsman, numbered E103 under British Railways and then again as 60103, was painted blue for a time, then BR Green.
It remained this colour until 1963, when it was retired by British Railways. By this time, it had undergone several alterations to improve its performance—but it had been pulling trains for 40 years, and steam engines were being phased out.
