The Flying Scotsman Returns to London For it's Centenary

This past weekend saw the iconic Steam Train the Flying Scotsman return to London's

Kings Cross Station for a weekend of celebrations to mark it's centenary.

The all ticket event on Platform 8 was sold out but the rest of the public were able to view

the Steam locomotive from the Station's concourse as well as from the adjoining platform.

So I was happy to get a few pictures from just a few feet away having missed out on a ticket.

The lucky few with tickets were allowed close up access and some even took advantage

by having their pictures taken up in the train drivers cab. There was also quite a bit of activity  

on the main Station concourse with several stalls set up selling Flying Scotsman

merchandise. And the whole event was organized by The National Railway Museum.

And yet it's easy to see how loved this iconic train is when you observe all the enthusiasts

that were there on Saturday morning. Perhaps we're all nostalgists at heart. And with

all the changes we've seen in Britain, one thing we do still have is our beloved Flying Scotsman.

And so 2023 is going to be a busy year for this steam legend as a busy itinerary has been

planned with many stops and Flying Scotsman journeys that are to take place around the U.K

next year.

The weekend's event coincided with the 170th Birthday of Kings Cross Station when

it first opened it's doors to rail passengers on the 14th of October in 1852.

EXPLORE THE FLYING SCOTSMAN'S

CENTENARY PROGRAMME HERE

THE NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM HOME PAGE

Above is the statue of Railway Engineer Sir Nigel Gresley who designed the Flying Scotsman

as well as the famous Mallard. It can be found on the main Kings Cross concourse.

Below is just one of the merchandise stalls selling Flying Scotsman memorabilia as part of

the weekend's celebrations. 

Above:  I was quite taken with this new Flying Scotsman Christmas card, but unfortunately

none of the merchandise stalls had any. So I might have to send off for one.

Above is the model railway that is on display in the new family hospitality room, as sort of 

waiting room to keep the kids occupied while waiting for their train departures.

Below; Quite a crowd of Harry Potter fans was building up for a chance to have their photo

taken by the nine and three quarter Platform sign. The sign is right next to the Harry Potter

merchandise shop.

Above is St Pancras Station.

Below is the spectacular Gothic Victorian architecture of St Pancras and the iconic St Pancras

Renaissance Hotel which first opened in 1873 and was designed by George Gilbert Scott, 

although it was originally called The Midland Grand.

   

GOTCHA!.... THE FLYING SCOTSMAN

VIDEO ABOVE BY DEEJOHN FOR CHRYSALISM

(VIDEO SHOULD BE WORKING NOW. I FORGOT TO MAKE IT PUBLIC)

Tuesday lunchtime saw the departure of steam locomotive legend The Flying Scotsman
from Paddington Station on route to The Chiltern Hills, just one of many destinations
on it's 2018 tour schedule.
With just a small handful of well wishers and train fanatics gathered on Platform 9, it
was clear that all the hullabaloo surrounding this steam legend had clearly died down.
Last year I went on two wild goose chases to catch sight of the train only for the tour
company to change all the departure times due to the insatiable interest by the public.
There was even times when the train was halted and stopped on it's journeys when
crowds dangerously gathered on the actual rail tracks.

The Flying Scotsman was the first locomotive to reach a speed of 100 miles.
And yet it's hard to believe that this beast was actually shipped over to the U.S for
a grand tour in 1969 as well as a trip down to Australia to feature
as part of the country's Bi-Centennial celebrations in 1988.

Being that the front of the train was sheltered under a platform bridge, once it started
up and exhaled steam, the noise was absolutely deafening. But for some reason British
train fanatics have quite an emotional attachment for The Flying Scotsman. I also
noticed how decorative the carriages were inside, with all the dining tables all laid
out ready for the served lunches.

For more information on the train's 2018 schedule see below.

THE FLYING SCOTSMAN

THE NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM
( HOME OF THE FLYING SCOTSMAN )
 

While at Paddington Station I actually got so distracted by The Flying Scotsman that
I forgot to go and check out the new Great Western Railway Inter City Express trains,
the very new one's that will take us to Cornwall in September. Although I was
surprised to learn that they'll only reduce our journey to St Ives by about 15 minutes.
But they do appear to have better wi-fi facilities. But I did hear from somewhere
that their catering facilities might have been downgraded. And to think that when
we first visited Cornwall they always had a Chef on board and we were able to order
a full English breakfast.
There's an interesting online page all about the new trains which also features a video
where you'll even see Her Maj The Queen taking her first journey on the new
Express Train..... below

GREAT WESTERN RAILWAYS