How fast was the Flying Scotsman?

In 1934, Scotsman was clocked at 100mph on a special test run—officially the first locomotive in the UK to reach that speed. The test run proved to the LNER's directors that steam power could provide high speeds, negating a plan for the company to use diesel power on its high-speed services.



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On 30 November 1934 his Flying Scotsman, an A1 Pacific, was the first steam locomotive to officially exceed 100mph in passenger service, a speed exceeded by the A4 Mallard on 3 July 1938 at 126mph, a record that still stands.

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In 1934, Flying Scotsman clocked 100mph on a run between London and Leeds. Pulling six coaches weighing 208 tons, this was achieved on a stretch of line just outside Little Bytham, Lincolnshire, for about 600 yards. Speed-measuring equipment carried on the train enabled the speed to be properly recorded.

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In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.

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Flying Scotsman is owned by the National Railway Museum and operated and maintained by Riley & Son (E) Ltd.

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The Flying Scotsman express from Edinburgh Waverley to London King's Cross failed to slow down for a diversion and derailed. Twenty-eight people were killed, including the talented Scottish biochemist, John Masson Gulland.

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Scotsman, now numbered 60103, was painted blue for a time, then BR Green. Flying Scotsman at Doncaster Works in 1957, numbered 60103. It remained this colour until 1963, when it was retired by British Rail.

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Flying Scotsman calls Gordon Little Brother despite the fact that Gordon is actually older than him, because Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 while Gordon was built in 1920 as a prototype pacific.

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The Flying Scotsman holds the record for hauling the first ever non-stop London to Edinburgh service in 1928. It was the first locomotive to reach 100mph in 1934 and the first steam engine to travel all around the world (with visits to the USA and Australia).

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During 2023, as well as days out on the mainline, Flying Scotsman can be seen at free static events at the National Railway Museum and other locations. The iconic loco will also be in action at a number of heritage railways around the UK and at Locomotion in Shildon.

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But during the Second World War, Flying Scotsman was repainted in wartime black, in common with all railway stock. After the war, it became green again and was rebuilt as an A3 Pacific. In 1948, British Railways was formed and rail travel in Britain was nationalised.

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The name was first associated with the Special Scotch Express train journey from London King's Cross Station to Edinburgh which ran every day from 1852. It was the fastest day express service on the east coast mainline, and before long became popularly – but unofficially – known as the Flying Scotsman.

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A spokesperson for the National Railway Museum confirmed that one of the trains was the record-breaking, century-old Flying Scotsman, the first steam train to reach over 100mph.

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The Glacier Express is the world's slowest train, taking more than eight hours to travel between Zermatt and St. Moritz in Switzerland at an average of 18mph. Along the way, it passes over nearly 300 bridges, travels through 91 tunnels and takes in endless stunning Alpine views.

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The Glacier Express is the world's slowest train, taking more than eight hours to travel between Zermatt and St. Moritz in Switzerland at an average of 18mph. Along the way, it passes over nearly 300 bridges, travels through 91 tunnels and takes in endless stunning Alpine views.

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Faster inter-city trains: 1920–1941 Rail transportation was not high-speed by modern standards but inter-city travel often averaged speeds between 40 and 65 miles per hour (64 and 105 km/h).

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