AN action-packed and varied year of special events and railtours to mark the centenary of LNER Gresley A3 Pacific No. 60103 Flying Scotsman – for long dubbed the world’s most famous steam locomotive – was officially launched at King’s Cross station on the morning of Friday, October 14, exactly 170 years to the day that the East Coast Main Line terminus was opened.
The previous week, the National Railway Museum-owned locomotive underwent test running on the East Lancashire Railway at the completion of its overhaul by Riley & Son (E) Ltd at Heywood, which operates and maintains the locomotive, following its withdrawal from traffic in April. The day before, it travelled down the West Coast Main Line to London in time for the start of its centenary celebrations.
King’s Cross
