The locomotive, 1923 to now

Flying Scotsman: the story of the world’s most famous locomotive.

Built at Doncaster in 1923, it pulled the first non-stop train from London to Edinburgh, was the first in the UK officially clocked at 100mph, went round the world, and was saved more than once. Every fact is linked to its source, and there is a quiz at the end.

Read the story Take the quiz

A green steam locomotive with a red buffer beam and a green tender, standing beside a platform with crowds behind railings — Flying Scotsman as 60103, on display at the Bluebell Railway in 2023.Picture: BWard 1997, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped and resized)

1923built at Doncaster Works, for £7,944 NRM

100 mphin 1934, first officially in the UK NRM

422 milesnon-stop in Australia, 1989 NRM

2.5 millionmiles travelled, by 2016 NRM blog, 2016

The short version

It started life as just another of Gresley’s A1 class, and is now thought of as the most famous locomotive in the world. NRM

It was the first locomotive of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway, the LNER. NRM

On 1 May 1928 it hauled the first ever non-stop London to Edinburgh service, cutting the journey to eight hours. NRM

It was the first steam locomotive to go right round the world, on its voyage to Australia and back. NRM

Today it is owned by the National Railway Museum in York, and operated and maintained by Riley & Son (E) Ltd of Heywood, Greater Manchester. NRM, 2023

Sources don’t always agree on the details, such as the exact date it entered service or how heavy it is. Where they differ, we show each figure side by side.

A green steam locomotive with a red buffer beam, smoke and steam pouring from it, coming round a curve with maroon carriages — 60103 approaching East Croydon in June 2016, a few months after its return.Picture: Peter Trimming, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped and resized)

The same locomotive in six of its looks, 1923 to today (our drawing; colours approximate).Drawing: our own, simplified and not to scale

Explore

The storyFrom 1472 to the most famous train in the world.

The engineGresley’s A1, rebuilt as an A3.

Records100mph, 422 miles, and Mallard’s 126.

Owners and rescuesAmerica, Australia and a nation’s appeal.

TodayRoyal trains, a centenary and a £2 coin.

MythsWas it really first to 100mph?

Tile pictures are credited on their pages and on the credits page.

Try the games

A 12-question quiz, a myth-or-fact challenge, and a year dial that shows its number and colours in any year from 1923.

Play now