I was meeting friends at Leeds rail station and the timing just happened to coincide with The Flying Scotsman locomotive coming through, hauling the Waverley Excursion from York to Carlisle and return. These heritage Railway Touring Company journeys are scheduled all over the UK, all hauled by steam - though not always this grand old loco. People pay hundreds of pounds for tickets (between £165 and £335 on this tour) and you can have breakfast and dinner on the train too, in rather lovely old dining carriages.
It may be difficult for non-Brits to understand but it's hard to overstate the affection for this locomotive in our national psyche. Now owned by the National Railway Museum, it celebrates its centenary this year. Built in Doncaster and designed by Nigel Gresley, it was the first locomotive of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). It made regular runs between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh Waverley. Its chequered history can be read HERE. It became famous as the first train to reach 100 mph on 30 November 1934.
I've seen it several times, most notably photographing it when it came through Saltaire in 2021 (see HERE). It's a beautiful machine and great to see it close up and stationary for a few minutes as it picked up passengers in Leeds. Then, with a toot of the whistle and a huge burst of steam at the front, it was off again. Wow.
An amazing sight, isn't it? I've never quite understood those tours; after all if you're on the train it's the worst place possible to see the engine!
ReplyDeleteI'm very impressed...have always liked trains. There is the immense weight and then the even more impressive power demonstrated by engines like the Flying Scotsman. I like the way the rumble is echoed in my chest. See, the romantic train lover here!
ReplyDeleteYou were so lucky to be there at just the right time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beauty.
ReplyDeleteI love these pictures. In my reading of British novels, it seems people are always taking trains--from Harry Potter to Mrs. Queen Takes the Train to Miss Marple and All Creatures Great and Small and so many others. You are fortunate in your train system. Where I live, passenger service is non-existent now--unlike 60 or 70 years ago.
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful train and must be fun to do a tour. Sounds like it might be running on time better than the normal service.
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