Didcot to host Flying Scotsman

The Didcot Railway Centre will play host to 'A3' No. 60103 Flying Scotsman for the first time since 2005 when the Gresley 'Pacific' visits the former Great Western Railway in August this year.


During its most recent visit to a preserved railway, ‘A3’ No. 60103 Flying Scotsman approaches the top of Holiwell Bank on its last day of operation at the Bluebell Railway on April 19. JONATHAN HUGHES

The LNER 4-6-2 will be at Didcot on the August Bank Holiday weekend (26-28). The last time No. 60103 visited the centre was 12 years ago, just before the locomotive was withdrawn for an extensive overhaul.

DRC Manager, Roger Orchard, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen by the National Railway Museum to show off their most famous locomotive in our living steam railway museum.

“Passengers will be able to ride behind Flying Scotsman in beautifully restored carriages from the 1930s and there will be frequent trips to watch and photograph the train as it goes by. We are also working with our neighbours in the community to ensure they are able to share in this experience, and will be working to support local businesses.

“We look forward to welcoming Flying Scotsman to Didcot again and to further visits in the future.”

Admission to the Didcot Railway Centre’s Flying Scotsman event will be by advance ticket only; there will be no walk in/pay on the gate admissions. Further details about the ‘A3’s’ visit and ticketing arrangements will be made available from Didcot in due course.

Flying Scotsman will be visiting two other preservation centres this year: Barrow Hill Roundhouse and the West Somerset Railway.

No. 60103 will be visiting the former on September 21-24 to help celebrate the completion of a £1.2million Heritage Lottery Funded restoration of the roundhouse, and will be lining up alongside new-build ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado and the NRM’s replica Rocket.

Prior to this, Flying Scotsman will be at the WSR on September 5-12, hauling special trains between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard every day except September 8. Details about ‘Scotsman’s’ visit to the WSR can be found at: http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/detail/flying-scotsman.

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