Category:Flying Scotsman (locomotive)

Flying Scotsman 4472 locomotive nameplate (artwork) [image info]

A Hornby Flying Scotsman on the museum's 00-gauge layout [image info]

LNER 4472 Flying Scotsman, photo published in the mid-1930s [image info]

Cutaway diagram of the Flying Scotsman's locomotive class, with parts list [image info]

1928: LNER 4472 Flying Scotsman with new corridor tender [image info]

View from the cab, front cover of "The Wonder Book of Railways", circa ~1928(?) [image info]

Bassett-Lowke Flying Scotsman model, 1937 [image info]

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The Flying Scotsman is one of Britain's most famous steam locomotives, and was a favourite with toy manufacturers. It's usually depicted with LNER running number 4472, and green paintwork. It was named after the famous Flying Scotman express train service.

1924: launch and public showings

The LNER's "The Flying Scotsman" locomotive (running number 4472), was named in 1924. Construction was originally started by the Great Northern Railway (GNR), with the loco being completed in 1923.

The locomotive was a darling of the LNER's publicity department, and was exhibited at the 1924 and 1925 British Empire Exhibitions, where it was displayed alongside "Castle-class" locomotives from GWR.

Corridor tenders

For the Scotsman's non-stop service (which commenced in 1928), the locomotive was coupled to a special "corridor tender" -- the coal-carrying section directly behind the locomotive was enlarged to carry an extra ton of coal, and to take a narrow corridor that allowed a relief driver to squirm though and reach the engine from the carriages behind, without having to stop the train.

Although this corridor wasn't visible from outside, these special tenders could be recognised by the carriage-style "concertina" connector fitted to their rear, which allowed a driver or fireman to walk from the rear of the tender to the front of the first coach.

1969: The US Tour

The North American tour of The Flying Scotsman would take it 3500 miles from its home in Britain before starting its 15400 mile-long journey, taking it across much of America and even as far as Canada. The tour was originally a mission of goodwill to promote trade and cooperation between British and American businesses with attention drawn to British exports to the States. It also allowed the organisers to display the pride felt with the ongoing restoration of such a famous locomotive. The American Southern Railways System and its president played official hosts to the Scotsman while it travelled across their railways and assisted in organising parts of the tour that took the locomotive to the networks of other US railway companies. With the American recipients of the Scotsman and the British government participating in and backing the venture, the tour gained much excitement and momentum from both countries.

As well as its ongoing restoration, the locomotive itself underwent several modifications, to ensure its compliance with the Federal Railroads Administrations regulations on locomotives. Many of these were in regard to the difference between the safety rules of Britain and America. The most noticeable of these modifications were the addition of a "cowcatcher", an additional bell, and an American-style whistle. Additional safety modifications included an airbrake system and a high intensity headlamp.

The Flying Scotsman departed from Liverpool docks on September 19th 1969 for a ten-day voyage to Boston. Upon its arrival the Scotsman was greeted with the sound of traditional Scottish bagpipes and was unloaded by US Navy cranes and equipment. The Scotsman's first voyage in America would be from Boston, Massachusetts to Hartford, Connecticut. The rest of the 1969 season would take the locomotive to New York, Washington and Dallas. 1969 proved to be a popular season as the public were described as "waiting in scores" to watch the locomotive pass by, at one point including a whole class of school children who were dismissed early to allow them to view the Scotsman passing by. The following year the Scotsman would visit Texas, Wisconsin and Montreal which was expected to be as popular a season as the last. Although the 1970 season was hit with financial difficulties it still went ahead, with the Scotsman visiting many locations and drawing crowds of the public. 1971 marked the last journeys of the Scotsman through Northern America where it travelled from Toronto, Canada to San Francisco.

At this point the tour was no longer considered financially viable and The Flying Scotsman was put into storage in until 1973 when it was returned to the UK via the Panama Canal to be further restored.

Museum models

As well as conventional commercial locomotive models and toys of the Flying Scotsman, the Museum also had a large 2.5-scale model on display in a glass case upstairs in Brighton Station, set into the glass wall of the ticket office before the station's renovations circa 2013.