Flying Scotsman and the Best Birthday Ever

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Flying Scotsman is one of the world’s most recognisable steam locomotives and still draws excited crowds wherever it goes. It is one of the jewels in the crown of our world-class collection, and we are delighted to share these iconic images from its recent overhaul as well as its first public event this autumn as we prepare for the engine’s centenary in 2023.

Iris dreams of going on the Flying Scotsman and standing on the footplate her Dad stands on. The book shares the fantastic feats of the Flying Scotsman as well as Iris’s quest to make her dreams come true. From 1st July 2021, VAT will be applicable to those EU countries where VAT is applied to books - this additional charge will be collected by Fed Ex (or the Royal Mail) at the time of delivery. Shipments to the USA & Canada:Although a still image Michael Foreman has truly encapsulated the dynamic nature of the Flying Scotsman in this front cover image but also throughout the book. Set in the past but teeming with life thanks to the gorgeous spreads. Transport Fascination An inspiring tale from Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman celebrating the world's most iconic train, Flying Scotsman, and its greatest fan, a young girl named Iris. The trip will start from Bristol Temple Meads before calling in at Yatton and Taunton before visiting Exeter, Plymouth and Par. The route includes travelling along the internationally famous sea wall at Dawlish, crossing Brunel’s famous Saltash Bridge into Cornwall and some of the most varied and exciting scenery in the country. Flying Scotsman, which first left Doncaster Works in February 1923, is synonymous with the golden age of rail travel and is a national treasure renowned as a feat of design and engineering.Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, it was the first locomotive of the newly formed LNER (London and North Eastern Railway). It was given the name 'Flying Scotsman' in 1924, when it was selected to appear at the British Empire Exhibition in London, after the daily 10.00am London to Edinburgh rail service which started in 1862. Flying Scotsman holds the world record for a non-stop run by a steam locomotive, set in 1989 with a 442-mile trip. Today marks the 100th anniversary of perhaps the most famous British steam locomotive in the world, Flying Scotsman, commencing its service for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) in 1923.

The Flying Scotsman crosses the Ribblehead Viaduct in North Yorkshire, as the Settle-Carlisle railway line reopens (Image: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire) To celebrate its birthday the museum (entry free, book online) is preparing a new exhibition and film, Flying Scotsman: 100 Years, 100 Voices , that will tell the human stories behind the legend. Members of the public are being asked to share their memories of the train through film clips, diaries, letters or photographs. The film will feature 100 distinct “voices” of people connected to the locomotive, including former drivers, railway workers and passengers. The Flying Scotsman will stop at several locations across the country on its way to Yorkshire, beginning with Swanage Railway in Dorset during the October half-term holidays. The Flying Scotsman and the Best Birthday Ever is a book I know my nan and grandad would have gifted to me as a child. The cover is a beautiful, matt watercolour image that instantly draws you in. As an adult you can feel the nostalgia bursting out and children will be filled with wonder at the the image of the train speeding out of the tunnel.Sophie Vohra highlights the significance of Flying Scotsman's 100th birthday and shares details of our Centenary Programme. The newly-restored Flying Scotsman, owned by the National Railway Museum in York, is expected to visit railway stations around the UK and spend time at the National Railway Museum as part of its centenary year. I have been fascinated with this icon of steam since the late 1960s when, one evening, I stood on Wellingborough Station and saw the true magnificence of the locomotive. Resplendent in its LNER apple green livery, I was simply captivated by the amazing spectacle, and that memory has stayed with me ever since.

It’s hard to find ways to talk about and celebrate Scotsman that have not already been done in countless books, documentaries, films, events and exhibitions—including in two fantastic publications from our Collections and Research team, The Flying Scotsman: Speed, Style, Service and The Flying Scotsman: The Train, The Locomotive, The Legend. But the team at the National Railway Museum and our wonderful partners have done just that! Published in association with the National Railway Museum, York, Flying Scotsman and the Best Birthday Ever takes readers on a journey through the golden age of steam travel, paying tribute to the women who kept the railways running during the Second World War. With family at its heart, the story is warmly written and joyously illustrated by national treasures Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman. In Doncaster, an exhibition at the city's Danum Gallery, Library and Museum will open in February, displaying artwork from the new children's book based on the Flying Scotsman story by Michael Morpurgo, and illustrated by Michael Foreman.If you're coming to Coles by car, why not take advantage of the 2 hours free parking at Sainsbury's Pioneer Square - just follow the signs for Pioneer Square as you drive into Bicester and park in the multi-storey car park above the supermarket. Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you. You don't need to shop in Sainsbury's to get the free parking! Where to Find Us

Dedicated lovers of the locomotive are invited to help shape the centenary celebration of the exhibition, called Flying Scotsman: 100 Years, 100 Voices. The museum is asking members of the public to get in touch to help define the exhibition and to share their memories of Flying Scotsman – whether through personal records, letters, photographs, or film clips. Read More Related ArticlesMichael Foreman is an internationally renowned, multi award-winning children’s book illustrator and author. He has twice won the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal for British children’s book illustration. Flying Scotsman was built in Doncaster works, the first locomotive of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) and entered service on 24 February 1923. It was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley as part of the A1 class—the most powerful locomotives used by the LNER at the time. Behind closed doors in a Lancashire workshop, the world’s most famous steam locomotive, Flying Scotsman, is being prepared for its centenary celebrations next year. Since May 2022, the celebrity engine has been undergoing a thorough mechanical overhaul to ensure it is ready to lead a national programme of events in 2023. Our cheeky train enthusiast protagonist hops aboard the Flying Scotsman as it travels from London to Edinburgh, breaking the speed record for steam locomotives on its way! But will Iris ever achieve her dream of riding in the driver’s cab of the greatest train in the world, like her dad?