Iconic steam locomotive Flying Scotsman will take to the tracks once again in 2025 as the nation celebrates the bicentenary of the modern railway.
The legendary engine, owned by the National Railway Museum, will visit two heritage railways this spring, with more trips set to be announced later in the year. The announced dates also include an Easter visit to the National Railway Museum in York and a summer residence at sister museum, Locomotion, in County Durham.
Flying Scotsman will make its first excursion at the Nene Valley Railway from February 22 until March 9, with a mix of static display and passenger rides available on selected days. Three evening dining trains are also planned, along with a photo charter, which will see Flying Scotsman haul a freight train for the first time since 1994. Tickets are available now on the Nene Valley Railway website.
The locomotive will return to York for Easter, where it will be on display on April 5-20 within the National Railway Museum’s Flying Scotsman Story exhibition as a highlight of the museum’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
From May 12 to June 2, Flying Scotsman will visit Didcot Railway Centre in Oxfordshire, with rides available on selected dates, where it will be reunited with the GWR 4073 Castle Class Pendennis Castle. Both engines were formerly owned by Sir William McAlpine and share a rich history of rivalry and international adventure. Tickets will be available on the Didcot Railway Centre website from mid-February.
Flying Scotsman will then make a triumphant return to the North East to spend summer at Locomotion from July 26 to August 25, with a mix of display and steam ride days on selected days, during a six-week summer festival.
More trips are now in the planning stage, with details set to be released later in the year. Flying Scotsman’s engagements in 2025 will be targeted at heritage railway lines to allow access to a broad range of family audiences throughout the railway’s bicentenary year.
Following a competitive tender process, Northern Steam Operations Limited (NSOL) have been appointed as the locomotive’s custodian after signing a contract to manage and maintain it until 2032.
NSOL will work with DB Cargo as the first Train Operating Company, who bring a wealth of experience of running both freight and passenger trains, including the operation of the Royal Train and the British Pullman.
In 2024, almost 320,000 people viewed, climbed aboard or took a ride on Flying Scotsman during its stays at the National Railway Museum and Locomotion, with thousands more set for a memorable encounter in 2025, as the UK celebrates Railway 200 – the bicentenary of the modern railway. The National Railway Museum and Locomotion are key partners in the year-long national celebration.
Head of Locomotion Sarah Price, said:
“We are delighted to be able to confirm Flying Scotsman’s first touring dates of the year, with more still to announce. We want to offer the broadest range of people the chance to get up close to this incredible piece of British engineering during our national celebration of the railways.
“The public’s level of interest in Flying Scotsman remains immense and tickets will go fast, so please do check our website for the latest information. As ever, if you are planning a trip to see Flying Scotsman, please ensure that you do so in safety and do not trespass on the railway line.”
Stuart Whitter, the chairman of Northern Steam Operations Limited, said: “We have been working hard with Science Museum Group and the National Railway Museum to prepare this historic engine for operation, and to create an exciting programme of heritage railway destinations for 2025. We are very much looking forward to delivering the maximum public exposure to this iconic locomotive across a historic year for the railways.”
All dates are subject to change, please refer to the National Railway Museum website for updates.
Advert
