The most famous and iconic steam locomotive in the world is to return to Swanage Railway for a visit this autumn.
Owned by the National Railway Museum in York, the Flying Scotsman will be loaned to the heritage railway for almost three weeks from Wednesday 19th October to Sunday 6th November 2022.
Flying Scotsman steaming past Corfe Castle in March 2019
Visit comes just before its centenary in 2023
Flying Scotsman will come to Swanage, fresh from a major engineering overhaul and ahead of its centenary in 2023 – it was completed in 1923 by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER.)
It last came to Swanage in March 2019, attracting lots of visitors from across the country. It caused plenty of excitement and a shortage of available parking in Corfe Castle and Swanage, with many residents offering exasperated motorists a space on their driveway!
Flying Scotsman is most famous for being the first steam locomotive in the UK to haul a train at 100 miles an hour. This happened during a test run in 1934.
Flying Scotsman attracted lots of admirers at Swanage station in March 2019
“A charismatic icon”
Swanage Railway’s volunteer commercial director Marcus Alldrick said:
“The trustees, directors, staff and dedicated volunteers of the Swanage Railway are delighted that the railway has been successful in its bid to again host Flying Scotsman which celebrates its centenary during February 2023.
“We are extremely grateful to the National Railway Museum for again giving the Swanage Railway the opportunity to host such an historic event to operate and display the world famous Flying Scotsman which is such a charismatic icon and turns 100 years old on 24th February 2023.
“It will be marvellous to admire No. 60103 hauling the unique Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage – known as Car 14 – because they operated as a pair across the USA between 1969 and 1972.”
Corfe Castle station March 2019
Five days of hauling passengers trains
While the locomotive is coming to the Swanage Railway for 19 days, it will only be hauling passenger trains from Swanage to Corfe Castle and Norden for five days – from Saturday 22nd October to Wednesday 26th October 2022 – with ticket-only access to stations for the public.
For the rest of the time it will be on show at Swanage Railway Station.
The iconic locomotive operating on Swanage Railway in March 2019
“Charismatic leviathan of steam”
Swanage Railway Trust trustee and Swanage Railway Company chairman Robert Patterson added:
“With uniformed attendants serving champagne and canapés to passengers on board the Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage, Car 14 will be coupled directly behind Flying Scotsman when it hauls trains on the Swanage Railway.
“That will give Pullman passengers a rare chance to enjoy the delights of travelling in style behind, and watching, the world’s most famous steam locomotive as it travels through the beautiful Purbeck countryside and past the historic ruins of Corfe Castle.
“Flying Scotsman visited the Swanage Railway in March, 2019, and the reaction from the public seeing and hearing the charismatic leviathan of steam at work was amazing and proved that the iconic locomotive still has a special place in people’s hearts,”
Further information
- More about the Flying Scotsman’s is on the Swanage Railway website
- Information about the locomotive’s history and restoration is available from the National Railway Museum
