Steve's Model Railway Site

My British Model Railway Locomotives

Flying Scotsman

Probably the most famous Steam locomotive in the world!

LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman is a 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.
The locomotive set two world records for steam traction, becoming the first steam locomotive to be officially authenticated at reaching 100 miles per hour (160.9 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.
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).
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 1988/89. Flying Scotsman has been described as the world's most famous steam locomotive. In a 2015 poll which questioned people from four continents it was again ranked the most famous locomotive.

Info about 60103 Flying Scotsman

Built at Doncaster Works by the GNR in 1923.
She was classified as an A1 Pacific. Numbered 1472.
In 1924, she was renumbered 4472 and was named Flying Scotsman after the world-famous The Flying Scotsman train service.
In 1924 & 1925, she took part in the famous British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Park in London.
In 1928, she hauled the first non-stop run from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley.
In 1929, she starred in a movie The Flying Scotsman.
In 1934, she became the first official Steam Locomotive to run at 100MPH.
In 1946, she was renumbered twice, first being 502 & later in the year to 103.
In 1947 she was reclassified as an A3 Pacific.
In 1948, she was renumbered by BR to 60103.
In 1960, she was fitted with a Kylchap chimney and smoke deflectors to increase performance.
She was withdrawn from service by BR in 1963.
She was purchased for preservation in 1963 by Alan Pegler.
In 1968, she hauled a non-stop run from London to Edinburgh to celebrate its 40th anniversary of the first non-stop run.
In 1969, she was taken on tour to the USA.
In 1971, Alan Pegler became bankrupt and Flying Scotsman was stranded in San Fransisco.
In 1973, She was saved by Sir William McAlpine and was returned to the UK by a ship via the Panama Canal.
When arrived at Liverpool Docks, she was taken to Derby Works for an overhaul.
In 1978, she starred in the movie, Agatha.
In 1988, she went on tour to Australia replacing 4468 Mallard at the bicentenary celebrations.
In 1989, she made the longest non-stop steam run in the world, running 422 miles without stopping.
She returned to the UK in 1990.
In 1993 she returned to BR condition with double chimney & smoke deflectors.
She was purchased by Dr Tony Marchington in 1996.
In 2003, Tony Marchington was declared bankrupt.
She was purchased by the National Railway Museum in 2004.
In 2006, she was withdrawn for overhaul.
10 Years later in 2016, she returned to service.
She now tours the country for many people to see.
She is based at the National Railway Museum in York.
Her current livery is BR lined Brunswick green with late crest with the number 60103