STEAM icon Flying Scotsman attracted thousands of steam fans to Devon yesterday as they lined the track to watch the iconic locomotive.
Excitement is now building among enthusiasts in Cornwall as it will set off from Plymouth tomorrow morning and head to Penzance.
It was built in Doncaster and was the first locomotive of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).
It left the works in February 1923 with number 1472. It was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley as part of the A1 class – the most powerful locomotives used by the LNER at that time.
By 1924, when it was selected to appear at the British Empire Exhibition in London, the loco had been renumbered 4472 – and had been given the name ‘Flying Scotsman’ after the London to Edinburgh rail service, which started daily at 10am in 1862.
The British Empire Exhibition made Flying Scotsman famous, and it went on to feature in many more publicity events for the LNER.
In 1928, it was given a new type of tender with a corridor, which meant that a new crew could take over without stopping the train.
This allowed it to haul the first ever non-stop London to Edinburgh service on May 1, reducing the journey time to eight hours.
In 1934, Scotsman was clocked at 100mph on a special test run – officially the first locomotive in the UK to have reached that speed.
Tomorrow's timings (it does not stop until it arrives in Penzance)
Departs Plymouth 9am
St Budeaux 9.07am
Saltash 9.11am
St Germans 9.17am
Liskeard 9.29am
St Pinnock Viaduct East 9.35am
Largin 9.36am
Lostwithiel 9.46am
Par 9.56am
Burngullow Jn 10.08am
Probus 10.17am
Truro 10.24am
Penwithers Jn 10.26am
Baldhu 10.30am
Camborne 10.42am
St Erth 10.54am
Long Rock 11.04am
Penzance 11.08am
She will then be diesel hauled back to Plymouth, with steam locomotives at the rear.
Depart Penzance 1.17pm
Long Rock at 1.21pm
St Erth 1.26pm
Camborne 1.38pm
Truro 1.57pm
Probus 2.07pm
Burngullow Jn 2.17pm
Par 2.27pm
Lostwithiel 2,36pm
Largin 2.49pm
St Pinnock Viaduct East 2.50pm
Liskeard 2.59pm
St Germans 3.10pm.
Saltash 3.21pm
St Budeaux 3.27pm
Plymouth 3.36pm.
Plymouth to Par – 1Z75 – Flying Scotsman & Black 5
Departs Plymouth 5pm
St Budeaux 5.07pm
Saltash 5.11pm
St Germans 5.17pm
Liskeard 5.29pm
St Pinnock Viaduct East 5.36pm
Largin 5.37pm
Lostwithiel 5.47pm
Par at 5.57pm
Par to Plymouth – 1Z76 – Diesel hauled with steam at rear
Departs Par at 6.03pm, arriving in Plymouth an hour later.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel