World famous ‘Flying Scotsman’ to celebrate Swanage Railway 50th Anniversary

Photo: Andrew P.M. Wright

Record-breaking ‘Flying Scotsman’ – the most famous and iconic steam locomotive in the world – is to visit the Swanage Railway in the autumn to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the heritage line rebuilt since 1976.

Owned by the National Railway Museum in York, the iconic 97-tonne A3 class locomotive – completed in 1923 by the London and North Eastern Railway (L.N.E.R.) – will be on the Isle of Purbeck heritage line for ten days from Friday, 23 October, 2026, to Sunday, 1 November, 2026, inclusive.

‘Flying Scotsman’ will be on static display at Swanage station on 23, 26, 27, 30 and 31 October and hauling trains between Swanage, Harman’s Cross, Corfe Castle and Norden on 24, 25, 28 and 29 October as well as on 1 November.

During a test run in 1934, the Nigel Gresley-designed No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ was the first steam locomotive in the United Kingdom to haul a train at 100 miles an hour.

Coupled behind ‘Flying Scotsman’ will be the newly restored and overhauled late 1940s ‘Devon Belle’ Pullman observation carriage that dedicated Swanage Railway volunteers rescued from San Francisco in 2007 where it was being used as a company boardroom.

It was between 1969 and 1972 that ‘Flying Scotsman’ ran with the ‘Devon Belle’ carriage in the United States of America during a tour of the country to promote British exports.

Sadly, the company running the tour went bankrupt with ‘Flying Scotsman’ returning home with the Pullman observation carriage remaining in the USA.

Swanage Railway Chief Executive Officer Abbie King said: “We are incredibly excited and delighted to welcome ‘Flying Scotsman’ to our beautiful part of the world during the Swanage Railway’s 50th anniversary year.

“It feels especially meaningful to be able to share such a world famous and iconic steam locomotive with both our local community and visitors alike as we celebrate five decades of rebuilding, preserving and operating a heritage railway in the Isle of Purbeck.

“It will be marvellous to admire ‘Flying Scotsman’ hauling the ‘Devon Belle’ Pullman observation carriage through the Isle of Purbeck because they operated as a pair across the USA between 1969 and 1972.

“The public will have the rare chance to experience the excitement and thrill of travelling in style in the ‘Devon Belle’ as it is hauled by the world's most famous steam locomotive through the beautiful Purbeck countryside and past the historic ruins of Corfe Castle.

“We are deeply grateful to the National Railway Museum for its continued support of the Swanage Railway and for helping us to bring this very special 50th anniversary to life with the visit of ‘Flying Scotsman’,” added Abbie.

Costing £7,944 to build, ‘Flying Scotsman’ was named after the prestigious London to Edinburgh express train service that the locomotive helped to operate – the journey time being eight hours.

In 1924, ‘Flying Scotsman’ appeared at the British Empire Exhibition in London and in 1963 British Railways withdrew the locomotive from service.

Purchased by the National Railway Museum in 2004, ‘Flying Scotsman’ was restored thanks to a £4.2 million, ten-year project funded by the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as from public donations.

No. 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ previously visited the Swanage Railway in 2019 and 2022.

When owned by the late Tony Marchington, ‘Flying Scotsman’ spent the summer of 1994 hauling trains on the three miles of line from Swanage to Harman’s Cross.

Harman’s Cross was then the limit of Swanage Railway train services before the opening of the relaid line to Corfe Castle and Norden in 1995.

Anyone interested in finding out more about volunteering on the Swanage Railway should email iwanttovolunteer@swanagerailway.co.uk while details about volunteering can also be found at swanagerailwaytrust.org/volunteering.

Story and photograph by Andrew P.M. Wright,

Swanage Railway official photographer and press officer.