Flying Scotsman returns

Want to buy this photo?

Photo: Journeaux

The Flying Scotsman

The Flying Scotsman returns to the East Lancashire Railway in October, steaming through Bury, Summerseat, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall on 13, 14, 15 and 16 October.

The Flying Scotsman, the first steam locomotive in the world to hit 100mph.

The engine, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, was built by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) at Doncaster Works in 1923, at a cost of £7,944.

It was named the Flying Scotsman after the London to Edinburgh service which started daily at 10am.

In 1928, it was redesigned with a new type of corridor which meant a new crew could take over without the train stopping - reducing journey times from London to Edinburgh by eight hours.

In 1934 it earned a place in the record books as the first steam locomotive to achieve an authenticated 100mph run.

When it was first built, the Flying Scotsman was apple green, but it was repainted black during the war, in common with all railway stock.

It was later blue when the railways were nationalised until it went out of service in 1963.

The locomotive was bought and repaired by British businessman William McAlpine in the Eighties and went on a tour of Australia, clocking up 422 miles - the longest ever non-stop run by a steam locomotive.

After a successful campaign, the locomotive was once more returned to public ownership in 2004 down to backing from Sir Richard Branson and the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

In its latest form, it is back to its classic green and is officially known as No. 60103.

• http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/100315/the-flying-scotsman-comes-to-heywood

Download