The Flying Scotsman

I had the pleasure two years ago of travelling the 42 miles from Scarborough to York on a train hauled by the rercord-breaking Flying Scotsman, built in 1928 and withdrawn from service in 1963 after covering more than two million miles. Now owned for the nation by the National Railway Museum in York and used for summer summer specials. Currently out of service undergoing extensive restoration but is expected to be back on the rails by the end of 2008.



Above: No 4472 arrives at Scarborough station. Left: the souvenir ticket. Below: turning the train for its return journey to York.

BELOW (left): All passengers on the Scotsman specials receive a souvenir brochure outlining the history of the locomotive. (Right): As there are no turning facilities at Scarborough station the train had to reverse several miles up the track to the nearest turntable. A local taxi driver knew exactly where to take me to get these photographs: the police garage adjacent to the track!

All steamed up in the Cotswolds

A busy scene on the Gloucester-Warwickshire steam Railway, a former GWR line in the Cotswolds, now run by volunteers over a restored 10-mile stretch from Cheltenham Racecourse to Toddington.
©2006 Arthur Loosley