Flying Scotsman Main Line Railtours Autumn 2026

I suspect that's the first time the phrase 'legendary journey' has been used in the context of Didcot Parkway station! Traditional Class tickets is a new one on me also.

But looks like both morning ones are already sold out so they are doing something right and good luck to them! Hopefully might encourage others of a market for such shorter days out to appeal to more.

 

Yesterday (Wednesday) 14th October i went over to York to see the Fox & Edwards tour from Coleshill to York diesel powered, and later 60103 Flying Scotsman going forward to Scarborough & return

60103 Flying Scotsman P5 York station



departing for Scarborough


Lots more from the day here
https://railway-photography.smugmug.com/Days-out/2026/October-2026/60103-/i-dP8CZvs

Neil

 

60103 passes Willington with 1Z73 Scarborough to Coleshill Parkway. View attachment 101074

 

Went down the road yesterday lunchtime to see the Scarborough outing go by. Was concerned by the gusty wind but never gave a thought about this happening on a line that only has one train an hour. Ah well - some you win and some......

Peter

 

Doesn't appear to be much interest in these trips on here, but the partnership between Vintage Trains / Fox & Edwards seems to be very successful and has at last provided some regular mainline employment for this fine machine. Once again, Scotsman is doing what it does best and is opening the door to new audiences for steam.
Hopefully some more pics and videos will appear!

 

Not the best shot from the island platform at Newbury Racecourse. Good to see it spreading its wings a bit. Everyone seemed pretty happy on board, while the time on the train seemed 'just right'. Seemed to cope with Savernake alright, but as I haven't done it in years, I couldn't really tell how much assistance was given. A video from the first trip suggests it just ticking over. Recall there was 11 on.

 

Here's my footage of Flying Scotsman over the two days. On Saturday, I filmed at Cholsey and Bridge 99 between Bedwyn and Crofton before heading to Wolfhall near Crofton on Sunday. I hope you enjoy it.

 

My little selection from the weekend, filmed at Crofton, Wolfhall, Bourton, Cholsey and Great Bedwyn. I hope you enjoy it

 

There is a knocking sound from the train in all three clips. The frequency is too slow for it to be a flat on a coach.

Is this discernible to anyone else?

 

My wife and I had a trip down to Gloucestershire over the weekend to celebrate our grandaughter's birthday on Saturday. Our son decided it would be nice to take the two of us for a trip to Didcot Railway Centre while the little one went to another birthday party for one of her little friends yesterday. I leapt at the opportunity and thoroughly enjoyed the visit.

As luck would have it we arrived during the morning just as the passengers were lined up on Parkway station to travel on the morning Flying Scotsman trip and 37240 was towing the train into the station. Very lucky on our part, but even then it was touch and go. Literally 2 minutes after we walked to the front of the train, 60103 pulled out amid much steam.

It's easy to be a bit precious when it comes to the crowds flocking to see Scotsman. It's rare that I ever go onto a station for a special, but yesterday I saw a lot of very happy and excited children out there on the platform. They were loving it.

PS I had a message to say that this post had been edited (by a mod), with the third photo being deleted because it was deemed to be a 'duplicate image'. That rush of steam from the cylinder cocks says differently, so I've put it back. I included it originally not only for the steam and the difting smoke, but in addition for the bystanders' reaction to the roar.

 

Interesting to see steam heat apparently in use beneath 2nd and 4th coaches.

 

I would say Scostman is being operated to get it into the normal domain as much as possible, and doing what it is good at.
The shorter trips, allowing 2 sets of customers a day, seems to be succesful.
In this scenario, she is being operated well, and doing the whole steam movement a great service.
Long may the operation continue this way, she has found a niche market for me.

 

How else would the train be heated?

 

Well, in the vast majority of cases with ETH either from the assisting diesel or (more rarely) a genny car. Historically, BR had outlawed steam heat even in the 80's, hence the late and very unlamented ETHELS. I recall that the WCRC mark 1's pre 2024 used steam heat when running unassisted and presumably the very recently CDL fitted rake retains that? The LSL mark 1 set is definitely ETH only. I was not aware that the VT set retained steam heat capability hence my comment.

 

VTs 37 has no ETH and they have no genny coach either. As far as I'm aware there stock is dual heated so their 47 can provide eth if required.

 

I don't think that BR or anyone else outlawed the use of steam heat in the 1980s. All that happened was that they ceased to use it then but it has never been "outlawed" as such.

Peter

 

Thanks, I appreciate the clarification.

 

Sorry, probably a poor use of words by me. My recollection was that there was a quite serious incident on the set used on the Marylebone runs where a steam heating pipe burst and scalded a passenger hence a BR decision to end SH.