Doncaster's Flying Scotsman takes to rails with passengers for first time in two years

Historic Doncaster locomotive the Flying Scotsman has taken to the rails for the first time with passengers in two years.
The Flying Scotsman is back in business.The Flying Scotsman is back in business.
The Flying Scotsman is back in business.

The world's most famous loco undertook a three hour trip from London’s Victoria station yesterday, with passengers paying up to £275 each to experience a taste of the golden age of steam.

Passengers, some of whom enjoyed a Pullman-style dining experience, enjoyed a tour of London before taking on a circular route around Surrey.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The excursion, organised The Steam Dreams Rail Company using the National Railway Museum's locomotive, was the first of several planned for this year.

Built in 1923 at the Plant Works, the 60103 Flying Scotsman was the first locomotive in the UK to officially reach 100mph and hauled the first regular non-stop London to Edinburgh service.

It was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and in 1934 was officially credited with becoming the first steam locomotive to be clocked at 100 miles an hour.

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

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

David Buck, owner of Steam Dreams Rail Company, said: 'We are delighted to be back out on the tracks again bringing the magic of steam train travel back to those who have missed it so much over the last year.

'What better way to re-start our steam train programme than with the most famous locomotive of them all.

The next trip for the Flying Scotsman will be on June 6, from London Paddington to Southampton via Winchester.

After that, it will go from London King's Cross to Cambridge on June 17 and travel around Fife from Edinburgh Waverley on June 25.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Buck added: 'We have a fabulous season ahead of us with lots of varied itineraries including more Flying Scotsman trips and the long-awaited return of our very popular Royal Windsor Steam Express and Sunset Steam Express trains which will be running out of London Victoria every Tuesday from June 1 to September 14.

'In addition, we will also be running our regular tours to Cathedral Cities, beach side resorts and special events such as Goodwood Revival to name but a few.'