The Flying Scotsman, the most famous and iconic steam locomotive in the world, is to visit Swanage Railway for almost three weeks this October

The 97-tonne A3 class locomotive, completed in 1923 by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), will be on the Purbeck heritage line from Wednesday 19 October to Sunday 6 November.
Flying Scotsman, which cost £7,944 to build, was named after the prestigious London to Edinburgh express train service the locomotive helped to operate – the journey time being eight hours.

During a test run in 1934, the Nigel Gresley-designed Flying Scotsman was the first steam locomotive in the UK to haul a train at 100 miles an hour.
A late 1940s Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage (known as Car 14), which Swanage Railway volunteers rescued from San Francisco in the USA in 2007 where it was a static bar, will be coupled behind No. 60103 Flying Scotsman.
Swanage Railway’s volunteer commercial director Marcus Alldrick said: “The trustees, directors, staff and dedicated volunteers of the Swanage Railway are delighted that the Railway has been successful in its bid to again host Flying Scotsman, which celebrates its centenary on 24 February 2023.”

The steam locomotive will be hauling passenger trains from Swanage to Corfe Castle and Norden from Saturday 22 October to Wednesday 26 October – with ticket-only access to stations for the public. It will be on static display at Swanage station on Thursday and Friday 20-21 October, and again from Thursday to Sunday 27 October to 6 November, with ticket-only access to visit the footplate.
Swanage Railway Trust trustee and Swanage Railway Company chairman Robert Patterson said: “With uniformed attendants serving champagne and canapés to passengers on board the Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage, Pullman passengers will have a rare chance to enjoy the delights of travelling in style behind, and watching, the world’s most famous steam locomotive as it travels through the beautiful Purbeck countryside and past the historic ruins of Corfe Castle.”
Book your tickets to any of these events at more online at the Swanage Railway website www.swanagerailway.co.uk/events.