Flying Scotsman to steam in region after 25-year gap

The iconic Flying Scotsman will be landing in the East Midlands next year to mark the relaunch of a heritage railway.

The Great Central Railway Nottingham (GCRN) heritage line through Nottinghamshire will host the locomotive in steam on 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28 May 2026.

Visitors will be able to book to ride on a restored inspection saloon once used by senior engineers and officials, added the heritage line.

The engine will also be on display at its model railway event on 16 and 17 May.

The Flying Scotsman first entered service in 1923.

It broke records by hauling the first non-stop London to Edinburgh service in 1928 and became the UK's first locomotive to officially reach a speed of 100mph six years later.

It returned to the tracks earlier this year after a 10-year restoration that cost more than £4m.

Oliver Edwards, director and general manager of Fox & Edwards Events, said: "Flying Scotsman is an incredible machine from the golden age of steam and it will delight visitors during its time with us."

GCRN chairman Andy Fillingham said it was 25 years since the world-famous Flying Scotsman had run on a heritage railway in the region and that they were "thrilled" to be hosting.

As well as returning to operation last year after closing during the pandemic, the railway is working towards reconnecting to the Leicestershire section of the line.

Mr Fillingham added: "We're very proud of the work of our volunteers in reopening the railway to visitors and this should bring awareness of our superb attraction to new people."

Great Central Railway first welcomed passengers between Nottingham and Leicester in 1899 along the Victorian Sheffield to London railway.

But after closing in stages, the last passenger services ran in 1969.

Two sections of the double track line were preserved by volunteers - one at Ruddington, south of Nottingham, and an eight-mile section between Loughborough and Birstall in Leicestershire.

The modern day Great Central Railway heritage attraction continues to work towards reunifying these two sections - and in the summer Charnwood Borough Council approved a planning application to reunite the surviving sections and reinstate about 500 metres of railway line.

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