Press Office

NRM plans return of Flying Scotsman

The National Railway Museum is gearing up for the return to Britain’s tracks of the world’s most famous steam locomotive, LNER No 4472 Flying Scotsman, next year.

It is also planning an extensive operating programme for its flagship locomotive V2 Class No 4771 Green Arrow.

The NRM is currently overhauling Flying Scotsman at its workshops in York and hopes to have the engine running again by the end of 2007. It is now seeking partners to work with the Museum to keep the 83-year-old rail icon and other historic steam locomotives in action for years to come.

“Since we saved Flying Scotsman for the nation in 2004 we have given thousands of people the chance to experience the thrill of main line steam, either with our Ride the Legend service or as part of this year’s Giants of Steam programme,”

said Andrew Scott, Head of the NRM.

“Both Flying Scotsman and Oliver Cromwell are due out of overhaul by the end of next year and so, rather than running the business on a year-by-year basis as we have done in the past, this is the ideal time to take a long term view of how we keep these fantastic engines working for the benefit of the public. We are therefore seeking partners to work with us in forging a five-year operating strategy from 2007 onwards.”

He added:

“We would also like to work with tour operators and the railway preservation movement to give as many people as possible the chance for one last ride behind Green Arrow before the end of her current certification in early 2008.”

Editors Notes:

  • The overhaul of LNER 4-6-2 No 4472 Flying Scotsman is due for completion by autumn next year and, after a period of running in, the locomotive is scheduled to return to the main line in late 2007 or early 2008.
  • The overhaul of BR 4-6-2 No 70013 Oliver Cromwell is currently underway at the Great Central Railway in Loughborough. It is due for completion by the end of 2007, ahead of the 40th anniversary of BR’s last public steam service hauled by the Britannia Class locomotive in August 1968.
  • The National Railway Museum already has five steam locomotives from the National Collection in action across the UK. They are: SR 4-6-0 King Arthur Class No 30777 Sir Lamiel; GWR 4-4-0 No 3440 City of Truro; SR 4-6-0 No 850 Lord Nelson; LSWR 2-4-0WT No 30585 (Beattie Well Tank); LNWR 0-8-0 G2 Class No 49395 (Super D).

27 October 2006