Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, Flying Scotsman was built at Doncaster Works in February 1923.
It is 70ft (21m) long and weighs about 96 tonnes. The Flying Scotsman is the name of a train service which has been running between London and Scotland since 1862 not the name of the locomotive.
The British Empire Exhibition in 1924 made Flying Scotsman famous. The exhibition was opened by King George V in April 1924 and attracted millions of visitors to what was then the largest exhibition ever staged. The British Empire contained 58 countries at this time and only 2 of them did not take part. The exhibition had 3 main buildings called the Palaces of Industry, Engineering and Arts and they had several light railways connecting them. Several railway companies had stands at the exhibition, in some cases showing off their latest locomotives or coaches. One of these was the famous locomotive, LNER no. 4472 Flying Scotsman.
Note re number of Flying Scotsman - as well as the most well-known apple green 4472 and the BR green 60103, FS has also been numbered 1472, 103 and 502.
In 1934 Flying Scotsman was clocked going at 100mph while travelling between Edinburgh and London - officially the first locomotive to reach this speed.
During WW2 it was repainted black, in common with other railway stock and in 1963 was retired by British Rail. It was then bought by a private enthusiast who restored it and took it on a tour of USA. It's next owner took it to Australia and by 1995 it was part-owned by Pete Waterman. It has travelled about 2.5 million miles.
The engine was bought for the nation in 2004 by the National Railway Museum in York, using public donations and grants. It finally returned to the UK's mainline tracks after a restoration that took 10 years and 4.2 million pounds. The restoration was completed by Riley & Son Ltd, based in Bury.
The museum announced that the locomotive would be painted in LNER wartime black livery to undergo testing and commissioning runs, with the letters N E on the sides of the tender, number 103 on one side of the cab and 502 on the other - the numbers it was given under the LNER's renumbering system. It will be repainted in its traditional green livery in February for it's inaugural journey from London to York later in the month.
Flying Scotsman was due to travel to Carlisle and then along the Settle-Carlisle railway in January however mechanical problems delayed this until 6th February. There were hundreds of people on the station in Carlisle waiting to see Flying Scotsman.
Coming into the station the first sight was of the diesel (named Diamond Jubilee)
.... then the carriages
.... and finally the star of the show at the end of the train. She would obviously then be at the front when they began the return journey!
Just to be next to Flying Scotsman is amazing. She is such a size! The wheels and everything about her is huge. There were police to control the crowds but they didn't need controlling. Everyone was very polite and aware that everyone else wanted photos too and were willing to take theirs and then move out of the way. There were loads of small children there too - l heard one dad telling his child "this is a real engine" Another (adult) was telling his mates "I touched it, I touched it" There is something about a steam engine that touches everyone in some way.
The best part for us was standing right next to her as the time of departure arrived. A railway worker moved the crowds back from the edge of the platform and then we waited..... the whistle blew ... steam filled the platform and obliterated everyones view ... the smoke from the funnel began to puff out in grey plumes ... and she began to pull away. The chug chug chug as she moved, along with the smoke and its smell were so evocative. Just what everyone was waiting for.
Everyone stood on the platform had a camera in their hand (many held in the air to try and get a better view) and as she pulled away everyone turned to follow her and many watched until she was out of sight.
Others were busy waving to the passengers on board who waved back, with such big smiles on their faces they must have been enjoying every minute! There were a good number of carriages, from the first class ones with their tablecloths and cutlery to the more mundane with tables covered in peoples own catering preferences! In just a few minutes however she had gone and we were just looking at the empty tracks.
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