Flying Scotsman trips released by National Railway Museum

The Flying Scotsman, which first entered service in 1923, is setting off on a UK tour.

In 1934, it became the first steam engine to officially reach 100 miles per hour.

And recently, a 94-year-old former fireman on the footplate of Flying Scotsman was reunited with the locomotive for the first time since the 1950s.

Owned by the museum since 2004, No. 60103 will embark on a series of mainline excursions starting in February, visiting heritage railways and making extended stops at both the National Railway Museum and Locomotion in Shildon during the Easter and summer holidays.

In 1934, it became the first steam engine to officially reach 100 miles per hour (Image: Steve Morgan, Board of Trustees of the Science Museum)

Andrew McLean, head curator at the National Railway Museum, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Northern Steam to ensure as many people as possible have a chance to see and be driven by this incredible locomotive.

“It really is an unforgettable experience; whether you are an ardent follower of heritage rail or it is your first ever time aboard a steam train, the experience never gets old.”

The Flying Scotsman will be on display in York from March 28 to April 24, giving visitors the chance to see the locomotive up close.

The Flying Scotsman at Bolton Street Station Bury and the East Lancs Railway line on International on Womens Day (Image: Steve Morgan, Board of Trustees of the Science Museum)

It will also feature at Locomotion’s Summer Festival from August 4 to 31, where visitors can ride behind the engine on selected days along a section of the original Stockton and Darlington Railway line.

Its first mainline excursion of the year will take it to the Midlands in February, in partnership with Vintage Trains, the only charitably-controlled train operating company of the 21st century.

Vintage Trains will offer a variety of experiences, from one-hour return journeys at mainline speeds to fine dining trips.

The Flying Scotsman at London King’s Cross in 1928 (Image: National Railway Museum / Science & Society Picture Libr)

From May 16 to 31, the locomotive will visit the Great Central Railway in Nottingham.

This marks the first time in 25 years that the engine has operated on a heritage railway in the East Midlands.

In June, it will travel to the East Lancashire Railway for both static display (June 3, 4, 10, and 12) and passenger rides (June 5–7 and 13–14).

The Flying Scotsman at Waverley Station Edinburgh for the Centenary Celebrations of the iconic steam locomotive (Image: Steve Morgan, Board of Trustees of the Science Museum)

All dates are subject to change, and visitors are encouraged to check the National Railway Museum website for the latest updates.

Further mainline excursions and heritage railway visits are still being planned, with more details to be released later in the year.

The Flying Scotsman, newly named and painted for the British Empire Exhibition, 1924 (Image: Board of Trustees of the Science Museum)

The Flying Scotsman remains a major draw for railway enthusiasts and visitors.

In 2025, during the National Railway Museum’s 50th anniversary and the 200th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, more than 50,000 visitors attended Locomotion’s Summer Celebration when the locomotive was on display.

Of the almost 40,000 people who visited the National Railway Museum during April, Flying Scotsman’s presence was cited as the number one reason for their visit.