4472/60103 Flying Scotsman 4-6-2

Summary: The flying Scotsman, probably the most famous steam locomotive in the world. Completed in 1923 the flying Scotsman became the flagship locomotive of the London North Eastern Railway company, and represented the company at the British Empire exhibition in 1924 and 1925. The flying Scotsman fame grew in 1928 when the locomotive hauled the first non-stop, 392 mile run from London to Edinburgh. A year later the flying Scotsman appeared in the 1929 black-and-white film named the flying Scotsman. The flying Scotsman's fame became immortalised when in 1934 it became the first steam locomotive in the history of the world to be officially recorded at the speed of 100 mph.

The flying Scotsman had a long and distinguished career with both the London and North Eastern Railway company and British Railways, before earning its immortality in preservation when it was bought by Alan Pegler in 1963. Now in preservation and private ownership the flying Scotsman's notoriety continued to grow when Alan Pegler took the locomotive on a tour of the United States and Canada. Over the decades to follow the flying Scotsman was owned by a number of individuals before it was bought by its current owners the National Railway Museum.

Learn interesting and important facts about the history of Sir Nigel Gresley world-famous steam locomotive the flying Scotsman. Discover this fantastic steam locomotive story with facts and technical information on the flying Scotsman's design and history. Learn why the flying Scotsman is an important part of Great Britans heritage.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 1: Who designed the Flying Scotsman?
The Flying Scotsman was designed by Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley. Nigel Gresley as he preferred to be known, originally designed the flying Scotsman as an A1 class Pacific locomotive in 1922. Flying Scotsman was later modified to Nigel Gresley's A3 Pacific class specification.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 2: When was the Flying Scotsman built?
The flying Scotsman was built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway company.The Flying Scotsman was originally designed for The Great Northern Railway company but by its completion in 1923 The Great Northern Railway company had merged to become part of the the London and North Eastern railway company (LNER). The Flying Scotsman was originally given the number of 1472 but later renumbered 4472 by the LNER.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 3: Where was the Flying Scotsman built?
The flying Scotsman was built at Doncaster works. Doncaster works also known as the plant is located in the town of Doncaster, which could be found in South Yorkshire, England.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 4: Who owns the Flying Scotsman?
The Flying Scotsman is currently owned by the National Railway Museum (NRM). Throughout the years of the Flying Scotsman long and eventful career there has been multiple owners of this magnificent locomotive. The flying Scotsman was originally ordered and laid down by the Great Northern Railway company, but on completion and its entry into service the locomotive was now owned by the London and North Eastern Railway company. Later in its career with the nationalisation of Britain's rail network the Flying Scotsman become a British Railways locomotive. In 1963 the flying Scotsman ended its career with British Railways, the locomotive was saved from the cutting torches of Britain's scrapyards when it was bought out right by Alan Pegler. This started the second phase of the Flying Scotsman's career in preservation. In 1972 Alan Pegler was declared bankrupt, the flying Scotsman was bought by William McAlpine. William McAlpine sold the Flying Scotsman to Tony Marchington in 1996. In 2003 Tony Marchington was declared bankrupt and the flying Scotsman was again put for sale, the National Railway Museum bought the locomotive into 2004 and remains the owner of the Flying Scotsman to the present day.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 5: The flying Scotsman is a A3 Pacific class locomotive. The name Pacific refers to a locomotives with the wheel arrangement of 4-6-2. Four leading wheels (bogie wheels) of 3ft 2" height, six driving wheels of 6ft 8" and to trailing wheels of 3ft 8".

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 6: The flying Scotsman's length was 21.34 m or 70 foot, and heigh was 3.96 m or 13 foot. The locomotive had three cylinders 2 outside cylinders and 1 between the frames. The flying Scotsmam operated with a maximum boiler pressure of 220 psi.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 7: Why was the Flying Scotsman build?
The purpose of the 4472 flying Scotsman steam locomotive was to haul express passenger trains for the London and North Eastern Railways between London and Edinburgh. The flying Scotsman was capable of completing the 391 mile journey non-stop in approximately 8 hours.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 8: In comparison to other steam locomotives of the time, the flying Scotsman's capability to run the non-stop between London and Edinburgh proved to be a massive advantage in both time saved for the fare paying passenger and money saved for the LNER as fewer crews and locomotives were required to complete the journey.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 9: Why is the Flying Scotsman famous?
The flying Scotsman is arguably the most famous steam locomotive in the world. Her notoriety stems from two world records she set. On November 30, 1934 the Flying Scotsman became the first steam locomotive officially recorded to reach the speed of 100 mph. On 8 August 1989 while visiting Australia the flying Scotsman captured the record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive, covering a distance of 422 miles.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 10: While under British Railways ownership the flying Scotsman was fitted with a double chimney. The double chimney was fitted to improve performance and economy. This in turn caused a negative effect due to a softer exhaust causing smoke to obscure the drivers view. This was remedied with the fitting of smoke deflectors from 1960.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 11: The flying Scotsman was a name given to express passenger InterCity train service which ran between Edinburgh and London. The locomotive flying Scotsman was designed and built to operate this service and subsequent acquired the same name.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 12: Following its retirement in 1963, the flying Scotsman steam locomotive was purchased by Alan Pegler. Under private ownership the flying Scotsman was restored to its former out LNER condition at the Doncaster works. During this expensive restoration many of the locomotive features which had been fitted during its BR service were restored to its former LNER condition. This included the removal of the smoke deflectors, refitting of a single chimney, and a corridor fitted tender for which the locomotive had ran from 1928 to 1936.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 13: Tony Marchington bought the flying Scotsman in 1996 for 1.5 million. During the three-year restoration that proceded a number of modifications was made to the flying Scotsman. These modifications included increased boiler pressure, new cylinders with a larger bore, replacement of 5 inch steam pipe from the super heater with 7 inch and a return of the double chimney and Kylchap blast exhasut. These modifications proved to be a success with an increase in the flying Scotsman's performance when the locomotive returned to steam in 1999.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 14: British Railways retired the flying Scotsman in 1963. During its lifetime, the magnificent steam locomotive covered 2,076,000 miles (3,341,000 kilometres). The flying Scotsman was in regular service for approximately 40 years for both the London and North Eastern Railways and British Railways before retirement.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 15: In 1929 the flying Scotsman appeared in the black-and-white film the flying Scotsman. The flying Scotsman film was directed by Castleton Night and starred Moore Marriott, Pauline Johnson, Ray Milland and Alec Hurley.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 16: In 1928 the flying Scotsman was paired with a corridor tender. This was to allow crew changes during the flying Scotsman's non-stop run between London and Edinburgh. The corridor tender was replaced with a streamlined non-corridor tender in 1936.

Flying Scotsman Train Fact 17: In 1988 the flying Scotsman was transported to Australia to take part in the countries bicentenary celebrations. The flying Scotsman became the's Aus Steam 88 Festival central attraction. The locomotive travelled around the country visiting towns, stunning spectators and setting world records. On 8 August 1989 the flying Scotsman set a world record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive. When the flying Scotsman travelled 422 miles from Parks to Broken Hill. The flying Scotsman returned to Britain in 1990.

Origin

GNR

Designer

Nigel Gresley

Build Date

1923

Total Produced

79

Total Preserved

1

Number Series

60035 - 60112

Wheel Arrangement

4-6-2

Cylinders

3

Boiler Pressure

220 psi

Tractive Effort

32,910 lb

Power Classification

7-p/6-f

Driving Wheel

6ft 8

Bogie Wheel

3ft 2

Trailing Wheel

3ft 8

Length

70 ft

Weight

154 tons

Water Capacity

5000 gals

Coal Capacity

8 tons