Flying Scotsman History

The Flying Scotsman was the name of a timetabled railway service , the 1000 from Kings Cross to Edinburgh and the returning 1300 Edinburgh service to the capital .

Initially this service started way back in 1862 and the overall journey lasted , on average, 10½ hours. This included a stop over at York for dinner and a convenience break at Newcastle (no toilets on the train back in the good-old-days ).

After the end of the First World War, a great deal of rebuilding to the railway infrastructure was undertaken and that included wholesale building of improved steam locomotives.

One of the most loved and admired was the A3 designed by the infamous Sir Nigel Gresley for the Great Northern Railway (GNR).

One such locomotive , constructed in 1923, was unceremoniously granted the GNR number 1472N and carried the new London and North Eastern Railway branding . This loco was soon re-numbered to 4472.

Although all of her A3 stable mates were named after racehorses, in 1924, 4472 was named ‘Flying Scotsman’ and so the legend began .

Following further infrastructure improvements along the East Coast main line, it was decided that on 1^st May 1928 there would be the first non-stop timetabled passenger service between Kings Cross and Edinburgh.

The decision was taken that 4472 Flying Scotsman was to haul this inaugural run over the 392 mile distance. This became a record for a scheduled service and set the standard that the competing pre-nationalised railway companies had to beat . 4472 also entered folklore.

Though many steam locomotives hauled the 1000 from Kings Cross and 1300 from Edinburgh, it was 4472 the Flying Scotsman that will always be synonymous with the majesty of East Coast travel.

As well as having such a famous name , the Flying Scotsman will also be remembered as the first steam locomotive to clear 100mph in 1934

Although Flying Scotsman was re-numbered on three further occasions to 502, 103 and eventually E103, she will always be remembered as No. 4472.

Following nationalisation of the railways in 1948, Flying Scotsman was again re-numbered as BR 60103 and soldiered on in service until her withdrawal from the main line in 1963.

By this time , the 1000 and 1300 return service had been handed over to the Deltics, a diesel locomotive class that would over the years gain as much popularity as their steam predecessors .

Flying Scotsman was rescued from the cutters torch , a fate that befell most of her classmates and after a lengthy restoration and journeys around the world as a showcase , now has a place at the National Rail Museum in York (UK) .

At this current moment , the Flying Scotsman is in the capable hands of engineers at York NRM and is undergoing a total restoration. It is hoped to have this locomotive back in her prime and ready for main line service again in 2011, almost 50 years after being deemed life-expired .

Over the years, many models have been produced of the Flying Scotsman both in HO, OO and O scales .

The most popular by far is the much improved Hornby Flying Scotsman.

This is a super model with an immaculate finish and has lovely detailing . It is produced in a variety of guises – as the standard model, as a limited / special edition or in the very popular ‘set’ with stylish coaches, track and an AC power controller .

The Hornby Flying Scotsman model is suitable for any layout depending on the era as you can source the livery / running number to suit.

With so many variations of this model over the decades , the fact this model continues to be produced and the enhancements to the moulding prove that the Flying Scotsman romance is still as strong as ever both in reality and as a detailed model .

The Hornby model accurately portrays the original and is a testament to the beauty and finesse associated with 4472 powering up the East Coast with that eponymous headboard attached to the front of the locomotive – the Flying Scotsman.