The Flying Scotsman

The Flying Scotsman passed through North Herts and South Cambs.

This iconic steam engine was originally built as Pacific Class 1 no 4472 in 1923 from the stable of the equally famous Nigel Gresley. The locomotive was deployed on the important London to Edinburgh line and made the non stop 392 mile journey in May of 1928.

Due to high coal consumption the valve gear on these engines was replaced and new boilers were fitted as well. They re-appeared as A3 Class, with the Scotsman being re-numbered 60103.

In 1958 the loco was fitted with a trough type smoke deflectors just as some of the Class were being withdrawn, and by the 1966 all stock had vanished from the tracks. The Flying Scotsman was fortunate to have been rescued and preserved.

Image + text by Clive Porter