Reader contribution
Flying Scotsman: the story behind Britain’s most famous locomotive
From LNER express engine to national treasure, Flying Scotsman’s century of service tells a remarkable story of speed, survival and restoration.
By UK Railway Watch editorial team · 9 Oct 2026
Flying Scotsman is probably the most famous steam locomotive in Britain, but its name has a longer history than the engine itself. The Flying Scotsman train service between London and Edinburgh dates back to 1862. The locomotive came later.
Built at Doncaster Works in 1923 for the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway, the engine entered service as No. 1472. It was one of Sir Nigel Gresley’s A1 Pacific locomotives, powerful express engines designed for the demanding east coast main line.
In 1924 it was renumbered 4472 and named Flying Scotsman for the British Empire Exhibition. Its fame grew quickly. In 1928 it hauled the first non-stop London to Edinburgh service, helped by a corridor tender that allowed crews to change without stopping the train.
The National Railway Museum says Flying Scotsman became the first locomotive in the UK officially recorded at 100mph, during a test run in 1934. The locomotive later travelled abroad, adding to its reputation as a global ambassador for British engineering.
Its survival was not guaranteed. In 2004 a public fundraising campaign led by the National Railway Museum secured the locomotive for the nation. A major restoration followed, and it returned to steam in 2016 with a celebrated run from King’s Cross to York.
When the locomotive reached its centenary in 2023, the celebrations showed how far its appeal reaches beyond railway enthusiasts. For many people, Flying Scotsman represents a whole era of rail travel: speed, style, engineering ambition and the romance of the long-distance express.
This is a reader contribution reviewed for relevance and safety. The views expressed are the author’s own.