The iconic green locomotive, which turns 100 next year, is about to leave the station for a fortnight of special trips – and celebrated by a new story book from Michael Morpurgo
It’s looking pretty spry for a centenarian. Its body painted in mirror-finish British Rail green, its wheels and smokebox gleaming black and its name picked out in bright gold. The Flying Scotsman, the world’s most famous steam locomotive, turns 100 in February, and for the past six months has been undergoing a thorough overhaul in a Lancashire workshop in preparation for a national programme of events to celebrate its birthday.
Fans can get a first look at the famous engine this weekend at Kings Cross station in London (tickets sold out). Next week, it will arrive in Dorset in time for half-term, and run on the heritage Swanage Railway from 22 to 26 October. Before that it will be on static display at Swanage station on 20 and 21 October – and later from 27 October to 6 November – giving steam fans the chance to stand on its celebrated footplate (tickets from £10). The public will also be able to book tickets to ride behind the Flying Scotsman in a rare Pullman observation car, Car 14, which the locomotive pulled on routes in the US in the late 1960s and early 70s.
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Source: Gaurdian