Flying Scotsman Centenary Programme poster 2023 – Vintage Railway Poster
2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the Flying Scotsman, one of the world’s most famous steam locomotives. This iconic train, renowned for its speed, elegance, and engineering excellence, has captured the hearts of railway enthusiasts and the general public alike. To celebrate the centenary, a range of events and activities are planned, including special train journeys, exhibitions, and educational programs. Our unique collection of Flying Scotsman Centenary Programme posters celebrates each of the 2023 celebration appearances.
Flying Scotsman Centenary Programme
The Flying Scotsman is owned by the National Railway Museum for and on behalf of the nation. Throughout 2023 the NRM has organised a series of events where you can catch sight of, or take a train ride pulled by the world-famous locomotive, under the title Flying Scotsman Centenary programme.
East Lancashire Railway – 1-25 March 2023
Events start on 1st March when the LNER Class A3 60103 will appear at East Lancashire Railway. The Flying Scotsman locomotive will be making its way from Bury Railway station through 16 miles of the beautiful Irwell Valley countryside stopping at Burrs Country Park Station, Summerseat Station, Ramsbottom Station, and Irwell Vale Station before arriving at Rawtenstall Station at the northern end of the heritage East Lancs Railway line.
National Railway Museum, York – 1-23 April 2023
Between the 1st and 23rd of April the National Railway Museum in York offered the chance to catch Sir Nigel Gresley’s Flying Scotsman in all its glory coupled with an extremely rare opportunity to gain access to its footplate. The A1 Pacific locomotive is owned and permanently cared for by the museum.
Royal Duchy – 30 April 2023
On the last day of April, the Railway Touring Company arranged a return day trip from Bristol Temple Meads via Yatton, Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth and Par to Devon & Cornwall. Under the title The Royal Duchy, the journey encompasses the Whitehall Summit, a stop at Exeter to take on water, travelling along the world-renowned seawall between Dawlish and Teignmouth, traversing the celebrated Saltash Bridge built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel that connects Cornwall, and exploring some of the most diverse and thrilling landscapes in the UK.
Keighley and Worth Valley – 1 May – 24 May 2023
For most of May 2023, the Flying Scotsman spent twenty-four days travelling on the unique Keighley and Worth Valley Heritage Railway line. The five-mile-long branch line railway is set in the heart of West Yorkshire, running from Keighley through the breathtaking scenery of Brontë Country at Oxenhope
The railway is widely recognized for its appearance in Lionel Jeffries’ 1970s film, The Railway Children, where it served as the captivating backdrop for iconic scenes set amidst the Worth Valley, including the thrilling paper chase at Mytholmes Tunnel and the charming Oakworth Station. Despite its length of just over 4.5 miles, the railway boasts an impressive six distinct stations, each exuding its own unique character.
The Cardiff Express – 7 June 2023
On 7th June 2023, the steam locomotive No.60103 Flying Scotsman hauled its carriages from London Paddington, through the Thames Valley and along the river Severn to the Welsh capital of Cardiff. According to the Railway Touring website the steam-hauled train sets off in the morning at London Paddington with the first stop at Slough before travelling along the picturesque and historic GWR main line, stopping at Reading to pick up additional passengers.
The journey continued through the breathtaking scenery of the Vale of White Horse to Swindon, before heading towards Bristol Parkway via the South Wales Direct line, passing through the Alderton and Chipping Sodbury Tunnels. From Bristol, the journey continues through the Severn Tunnel towards Newport, where the train it turned at Maindee. The entire route encompasses in the following stations London Paddington – Slough – Reading – Swindon – Bristol Parkway – Severn Tunnel – Maindee Jct – Cardiff – Severn Tunnel – Bristol Parkway – Swindon – Reading – Slough – London Paddington
The Cheshireman – 10 June 2023
The Cheshireman is a special charter train that ran from London Euston to the historic city of Chester in June 2023. The Railway Touring website describes the trip in detail which explains that the steam-hauled train departed from London Euston in the morning before steaming its way up Camden Bank, before passing through Watford Tunnel into rural Hertfordshire. The first stop was the 1960s new town of Milton Keynes where passengers from Watford Junction joined the train.
At Hanslope Junction, the train left the West Coast Main Line to take the Northampton loop line where it made another stop for passengers before continuing northwards. The train passed the Daventry Railfreight Terminal before rejoining the West Coast Main Line at Rugby. After picking up passengers at Rugby, the journey follows the Trent Valley Line to Nuneaton, where the last passengers’ board.
The train then speeds through Lichfield, which is notable for its three-spired medieval cathedral, and Shugborough Tunnel soon after Rugeley. The Flying Scotsman continues northwards through Stafford to the famous railway town of Crewe, where it takes the North Wales Coast Line to the Roman city of Chester which is one of the most visited places in the UK. After a four-hour stop in Chester, the return journey is also hauled by the steam locomotive Flying Scotsman. The train departs from Chester late afternoon and stops at the same stations as on the outward journey to drop off passengers.
The route 2023 Cheshireman trip encompassed London Euston – Watford Jct – Milton Keynes – Northampton – Rugby – Nuneaton – Crewe – Chester and return.
The Portsmouth Flyer – 17 June 2023
Flying Scotsman excursion to Portsmouth Flyer, from London to Portsmouth and back.
The Salisbury Express – 21 June 2023
June 21 – Flying Scotsman excursion to Salisbury Express, from London to Salisbury and back.
Great Yarmouth – 24 June 2023
June 24 – Flying Scotsman excursion to Great Yarmouth, from London to Yarmouth and back again.
East Coast Main Line – 30 June – 4 July 2023
June 30 – July 4 – return excursion along the East Coast Main Line between London, York and Edinburgh
The Waverley – 9 July and 10 September 2023
Starting at York station, the Waveley day trips included stops at Church Fenton, Leeds, Keighley, and Skipton to board passengers and a stop at Hellifield to take on water. The journey then continued onto the Settle & Carlisle Railway, facing the challenging 15 mile climb of a 1 in 100 gradient. This renowned railway route always provides breathtaking views, passing through picturesque Settle station and over the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct. The Flying Scotsman steam journey showcases stunning scenery from Mallerstang’s lofty heights before descending through Kirkby Stephen to Lazenby, where a stop is made to refuel before continuing to Carlisle. On the return journey, the train departs from Carlisle with a stop made at Appleby for refueling before embarking on a climb of almost continuous 50 miles back to Ais Gill Summit. Passengers are dropped off at Skipton, Keighley, Leeds, and York along the way.
East Coast Main Line – The Bluebell – 23 August – 3 September 2023
August 234 – September 3 – Flying Scotsman at Bluebell Railway in East Sussex.
The Strathspey
Twenty mile round trips from Aviemore on 23, 24, 30 Sept, and 1 Oct.
20-mile round trips from Aviemore on 23, 24, 30 Sept, and 1 Oct.
The Highland Express
This day trip departed Edinburgh Waverley for a journey to Inverness via Perth, returning in the evening. The train was diesel-hauled on the outbound journey and steam-hauled by the Flying Scotsman on the return journey.
The Fife Circular
A trio of scenic round trips started and finished at Edinburgh Waverley. The four-hour round trips were run during morning, afternoon and evening slots taking in the Forth Rail Bridge and Dunfermline.
The Aberdeen Flyer
A day trip departing Edinburgh Waverley for Aberdeen before heading back to the nation’s Capital.
The Hadrian – 14 October 2023
The Hadrian day excursion is made along the Settle to Carlisle line via York and Leeds. The journey starts by diesel from Derby to York. Stops were made at Long Eaton, Beeston, Ilkeston, Alfreton, and Chesterfield to pick up passengers. At York, the Flying Scotsman hauls The Hadrian train, via Leeds, over the Settle to Carlisle Railway to Carlisle, and then down to Darlington, where she leaves the train. A diesel takes the train back via York to Derby.
The Doncaster Stopover
The Waverley – 19 November 2023
This Waverley excursion was added to the Flying Scotsman itinerary on 03 August 2023 as a replacement to the 06 August trip. ‘The Waverley’ day trip on 06 Aug saw a last minute can cellation due to an engineering issue with Flying Scotsman. According to the MechTraveller website, a routine inspection had revealed excessive wear in the locomotive cylinders.
Like the dates earlier in the year the day excursion starts at York railway station on the spectacular Settle & Carlisle Railway. The trip runs via Leeds, Keighley & Skipton to Carlisle and then return to York.
Darlington – 16 December 2023
December 16 – Flying Scotsman to spend two weeks in light steam at Locomotion in Darlington
The Flying Scotsman’s enduring popularity serves as a testament to the enduring fascination with steam locomotives and their role in shaping transportation history. The centenary is a chance to celebrate this enduring legacy and inspire the next generation of railway enthusiasts.
The Flying Scotsman
The Flying Scotsman is perhaps the most famous steam locomotive in the world, known for its speed, power, and iconic design. Built-in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway, it was the first locomotive to reach 100 miles per hour, setting a world record that captured the public’s imagination.
The Flying Scotsman was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, one of Britain’s foremost railway engineers, who sought to create a locomotive that could haul heavy express trains at high speeds over long distances. He achieved this by incorporating a number of innovative features, including a streamlined front end, a large boiler, and a powerful six-wheel drive system.
Over the years, the Flying Scotsman underwent numerous modifications and upgrades, including a conversion from coal to oil firing, the addition of a double chimney and smoke deflectors, and a change in livery from the traditional green to the famous apple green that it is now known for.
Today, the Flying Scotsman is a beloved icon of British engineering and a symbol of the golden age of steam travel. It has appeared in countless films, television shows, and books, and has inspired generations of train enthusiasts around the world. Despite being retired from regular service in 1963, it continues to make special appearances and excursions, delighting audiences with its beauty and power.
Why is the Flying Scotsman so famous?
The Flying Scotsman is one of, if not the, most famous trains in the world. The service linking Edinburgh and London, in both directions, began in 1862 and had been known as the 10:00 Special Scotch Express.
In 1923, more than thirty of the nation’s railway companies were merged to form, four large railway companies. The grouped companies, now widely known as The Big Four, consisted of the Great Western Railway, Southern Railway, London Midland and Scottish Railway and London and North Eastern Railway companies.
In 1924, the London to Edinburgh route was renamed by the LNER to the Flying Scotsman, its unofficial name since the 1870s. In a programme of modernisation and improvement, along with its name change, the service saw the introduction of the Doncaster Works built, Nigel Gresley designed the 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive, The Flying Scotsman.
According to an article by Ben Stockdale on the Railway Hub website. Flying Scotsman originally cost £7944 to build. A figure is equivalent to about £326,000 in today’s money. However, this pales into insignificance with its restoration figures. The National Railway Museum bought the train for £2.31m in 2004 and spent a further £4.5m to overhaul it. This makes Flying Scotsman one of the most expensive locomotives in the world.
In 1862, the 392-mile journey took ten and a half hours to complete, although this did include a half-hour stop at York for lunch! The Flying Scotsman’s inaugural journey on 1 May 1928, was completed the journey in 8 hours and 3 minutes. However, this time was down to speed restrictions put on the railway companies following a derailment in 1895 on the West Coast East Coast line. When the restrictions were lifted in 1932 another half hour had been knocked off the journey time, becoming the first train to cut the journey time to below eight hours.
With the LNER’s publicity department going into action, The Flying Scotsman soon became a firm favourite with the passengers.
Flying Scotsman became a flagship locomotive for the LNER. It represented the company at the 1924 and 1925 British Empire Exhibition.
On 30 November 1934, Flying Scotsman became the first steam locomotive to reach the officially authenticated speed of 100 mph (161 km/h) becoming one of, if not the, most famous locomotives in the world. Between 1969 and 1973 Flying Scotsman toured extensively in the United States and Canada and in Australia between 1988 and 1989.
It was during its time in Australia that the Flying Scotsman added another record to its CV when it set a record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive. It travelled 422 miles (679 km) on 8 August 1989.
In 1989, Flying Scotsman added another record to CV when it set a record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive. It travelled 422 miles (679 km) in Australia, on 8 August.
Following a ten-year restoration project, Flying Scotsman returned to the tracks in 2016. Since then, it has been hauling enthusiast passengers on journey specials to a variety of destinations across the United Kingdom, as well as making personal appearances at the National Railway Museum in York, Crewe Heritage Museum and at Locomotion in Shildon.
Where is the Flying Scotsman today?
The Flying Scotsman is owned by the National Railway Museum for and on behalf of the nation. The Flying Scotsman took part in a series of half a dozen appearances in March 2022. These were The Cotswold Venturer on 5 March, London to Oxford on 13 March, London to Kent on 17 March, London to Salisbury and a Salisbury tour on 24 March. According to Wikipedia, the Flying Scotsman was withdrawn in April 2022, for an overhaul in preparation for its centenary year in 2023. Following the work it will be certified to run on the mainline until 2029, after which it will run solely on heritage railways until 2032. Its first engagement following restoration will be daily trips and static display on the Bluebell Railway.
Other Flying Scotsman Railway Posters
The Flying Scotsman passenger train service began in 1862 as the Special Scotch Express. The Flying Scotsman train was officially named in 1923 after the passenger service from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley on the East Coast mainline. Its unmissable green livery, record-breaking achievements, and iconic railway posters soon made the train extremely popular with the British public.
The Flying Scotsman continues to be a symbol of British engineering and a beloved piece of railway history, captivating enthusiasts and tourists worldwide. This famous train has left its mark in various forms of media, gracing the pages of books, the screens of films, and even adorning coins, postage stamps, and jigsaw puzzles. Its iconic presence extends to everyday items like cups, mugs, and coasters, making it a beloved symbol that permeates both history and popular culture.
Vintage posters featuring the Flying Scotsman are especially popular among collectors due to their rarity and nostalgic appeal. These posters capture the essence of the train and are highly valued by those who appreciate history and art. The posters are a testament to its enduring legacy, the Flying Scotsman continues to inspire and captivate generations, becoming a cherished symbol of the golden age of rail travel.
Some of our favorite Flying Scotsman posters include an anonymous poster for the LNER who in conjunction with the Cunard shipping line produced a poster to encourage transatlantic travel from America and Canada to the British shores and onto the Continent. The Cunard LNER poster depicts the famous train waiting patiently on Liverpool docks while its passengers disembark from the RMS Aquitania.
Another well-known and popular poster was produced in 1932 by the British artist A.R. Thomson. The Take Me By Flying Scotsman poster depicts a small child standing on a railway platform looking up at a train driver in his cab. The poster mimics Southern Railways ‘Early Holiday poster‘ by Charles Brown. However, the size of the child compared to the locomotive, and the train driver needing to use a megaphone to communicate with the child, seems to be a playful way to show that LNER trains were bigger and faster than Southern’s.
Leo Marfurt‘s 1928 Flying Scotsman poster is an Art Deco classic that barely features the famous locomotive or train. Instead, the bright and contemporary graphic, almost abstract design depicts a large crowd of passengers leaving the platform having alighted the train whilst others wait patiently to board. The image accompanies the message that the train leaves Kings Cross station in London at 10 a.m. every weekday.
A personal favorite features the iconic train winding its way through the rugged Scottish scenery in the Monessie Gorge in Inverness-shire, Scotland. The stunning By Rail to the Highlands print was created by the renowned artist Terence Cuneo who was renowned for his incredible railway posters and fine art paintings.
For our final highlight, we have chosen a series of posters that were created to celebrate the Flying Scotsman turning 100 years old. Each of the twenty Centenary posters marks one of the mainline centenary runs that took place between March and December 2023. The runs include East Lancashire, Royal Duchy, Keighley and Worth Valley, Cardiff Express, the Cheshireman, the Portsmouth Flyer, the Salisbury Express, the East Coast Mainline, and the Highland Express.
We currently list over 200 vintage railway posters in our collection with new ones introduced on a regular basis. More than a dozen of these include superb reproduction prints and original Flying Scotsman posters. Take a trip over there and see where the journey takes you!
