10 things you need to know about the Flying Scotsman

Ahead of its return to Doncaster this morning, here's 10 things you need to know about the world famous locomotive.
The Flying Scotsman is returning to Doncaster today.The Flying Scotsman is returning to Doncaster today.
The Flying Scotsman is returning to Doncaster today.

1. The Flying Scotsman, an A3 Pacific class locomotive, was originally built in 1923 for the London and North East Railway.

2. It was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and has been in the public eye since it first went into service, having been on display at the British Empire Exhibition the following year.

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3. The Flying Scotsman took eight hours to complete the trip between London and Edinburgh and in 1934 was officially credited with becoming the first steam locomotive to be clocked at 100 miles an hour.

4. It holds a second record for the longest non-stop run of 422 miles when it was in Australia.

5. The locomotive weighs about 100 tons.

6. Flying Scotsman has covered around 2,500,000 miles in its long career.

7. It had five numbers, 1472, 4472, 502, 103 and 60103.

8. Doncaster railway works is where the engine was built in 1923.

9. The Flying Scotsman took eight hours to cover the 392 miles between London and Edinburgh.

10. At one stage it had a tender with a corridor to enable crew changes during the Edinburgh trip.