This year, the Flying Scotsman celebrated its 100th anniversary. But as the iconic steam-powered locomotive continues to mark its centenary with a tour around the UK, its future is now at risk.
Last week, the National Railway Museum (NRM) in York, which owns the steam engine, released a statement announcing that its contract to operate it is soon coming to an end.
It said: ‘The current contract to maintain and operate Flying Scotsman runs until December 2023. After the success of Flying Scotsman’s centenary year, and the locomotive’s two popular visits to the NRM, the future operation of Flying Scotsman after this date is being carefully considered.’
Built in 1923, the steam engine was the first train to reach 100mph and was in service until 1963. On its final leg of its centenary tour the Scotsman has visited the Locomotion Museum in Shildon, County Durham, and it will stay there until January 7, 2024. The train will apparently then remain in Shildon after the event but will not be on display.
In a statement, NRM assured fans of the train that they will still be able to enjoy it. It said: ‘Future arrangements will ensure people have the opportunity to see and experience one of the collection’s star objects and will conserve and safeguard the locomotive’s future.
‘The National Railway Museum is committed to making Flying Scotsman accessible to all and this includes building on the success it’s had in our museums in the centenary year and operating it up and down the country.’
Check out our pick of the best train journeys in the UK (of course, we had to feature the Flying Scotsman on there). While its future is uncertain right now, there are railways that have made a comeback in the past year. A Yorkshire heritage railway will soon become a commuter route and this much-missed northern railway line will be reopening after 60 years in 2024, this gorgeous pier railway has just reopened on the Isle of Wight and the UK’s highest railway is finally reopened to the public.
Did you see that the UK is officially one of the world’s most Christmas-obsessed countries?
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.