WORLD FAMOUS ‘FLYING SCOTSMAN’ SOON TO CELEBRATE SWANAGE RAILWAY 50th ANNIVERSARY

Excitement and anticipation is building with the record-breaking ‘Flying Scotsman’ – the world’s most famous and iconic steam locomotive – soon to visit the Swanage Railway to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the heritage line rebuilt since 1976.

Owned by the National Railway Museum in York, the iconic 97-tonne A3 class locomotive – completed in 1923 by the London and North Eastern Railway (L.N.E.R.) – will be on the Isle of Purbeck heritage railway for ten days from Friday, 23 October, 2026, to Sunday, 1 November, 2026, inclusive.

‘Flying Scotsman’ will be on static display at Swanage station on 23, 26, 27, 30 and 31 October, 2026, and hauling seven-carriage trains between Swanage, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden on 24, 25, 28 and 29 October, 2026, as well as on 1 November, 2026.
During a test run in 1934, the Nigel Gresley-designed No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ was the first steam locomotive in the United Kingdom to haul a train at 100 miles an hour.

In 1924, ‘Flying Scotsman’ appeared at the British Empire Exhibition in London and in 1963 British Railways withdrew the locomotive from service, after which it was saved by Alan Pegler.

Running with ‘Flying Scotsman’ will be the newly overhauled and upgraded late 1940s ‘Devon Belle’ Pullman observation carriage that dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers rescued from San Francisco in 2007 where it was being used as a company boardroom.
Between 1969 and 1972, ‘Flying Scotsman’ ran with the ‘Devon Belle’ carriage in the United States of America during a tour of the country to promote British exports.

When ‘Flying Scotsman’ is hauling trains of seven carriages – each named after a Scottish loch – between Swanage, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden, the following round trip tickets are available for travel behind the world’s most famous locomotive.

• ‘Flying Scotsman’ Standard Travel – including unlimited travel for the day behind a Swanage Railway steam locomotive.

• ‘Flying Scotsman’ 1920s Grand Breakfast – in the ‘Devon Belle’ Pullman carriage and including unlimited travel for the day behind a Swanage Railway steam locomotive.

• ‘Flying Scotsman’ 1920s Grand Afternoon Tea – in the ‘Devon Belle’ Pullman carriage including unlimited travel for the day behind a Swanage Railway steam locomotive.

• ‘Flying Scotsman’ Breakfast and Sparkles – in a 1930s heritage carriage and including unlimited travel for the day behind a Swanage Railway steam locomotive.

• ‘Flying Scotsman’ Scones and Sparkles – in a 1930s heritage carriage and including unlimited travel for the day behind a Swanage Railway steam locomotive.

When ‘Flying Scotsman’ is on static display at Swanage station, visitors will enter via the ‘Devon Belle’ Pullman observation carriage – where they can purchase drinks at the bar – before walking through the historic locomotive’s corridor tender and on to the fascinating footplate.

‘Flying Scotsman’ static display viewing tickets include unlimited travel for the day behind a Swanage Railway steam locomotive between Norden, Corfe Castle, Harman’s Cross and Swanage. Standard travel tickets will not be available on ‘Flying Scotsman’ static display days.

Swanage Railway Chief Executive Officer Abbie King said: “It is a tremendous privilege to welcome ‘Flying Scotsman’ to the beautiful Isle of Purbeck during the Swanage Railway’s very special 50th anniversary year. We are incredibly excited and absolutely delighted.

“It feels especially meaningful to be able to share such a world famous and iconic steam locomotive with our local community and visitors alike as we celebrate five decades of rebuilding, preserving and operating such a wonderful heritage railway in the Isle of Purbeck.

“It will be marvellous to admire ‘Flying Scotsman’ hauling the ‘Devon Belle’ Pullman observation carriage through the Isle of Purbeck because they operated as a pair across the USA between 1969 and 1972.

“The public will have the rare chance to experience the excitement and thrill of travelling in style in the ‘Devon Belle’ as it is hauled by the world's most famous steam locomotive through the beautiful Purbeck countryside and past the historic ruins of Corfe Castle.

“We are very grateful to the National Railway Museum for its continued support of the Swanage Railway and for helping us to bring this very special 50th anniversary to life with the visit of ‘Flying Scotsman’,” added Abbie.

Costing £7,944 to build, ‘Flying Scotsman’ was named after the prestigious London to Edinburgh express train service it helped to operate – the journey time being eight hours.

Purchased by the National Railway Museum in 2004, ‘Flying Scotsman’ was restored thanks to a £4.2 million, ten-year project funded by the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as from public donations.

Tickets for ‘Flying Scotsman’ running and static display days can be purchased from the Swanage Railway website at www.swanagerailway.co.uk under Events and Experiences.

Andrew PM Wright