At the end of this month, the iconic and much-loved steam locomotive Flying Scotsman will be paying a 12-day visit to the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex.

This month’s visit of Flying Scotsman follows the unfortunate cancellation of its visit to the Bluebell Railway last year because of the need for an urgent overhaul.

Many ticket holders who were disappointed last year chose to keep their bookings and wait more than a year to experience this giant of steam.

During its visit, Flying Scotsman will be hauling non-stop return trains from Sheffield Park Station to East Grinstead on both regular services and special dining trains for five days from 23 – 29 August.

Unfortunately, these services are sold out but anyone wishing to see Flying Scotsman can travel by other trains for which tickets are still available and hop on and off at intermediate stations to see Flying Scotsman pass by. Also, tickets to Flying Scotsman on static display in light steam are still available.

Flying Scotsman will be on static display at Sheffield Park from 30 August – 3 September, when visitors can step up onto the footplate. Tickets for footplate viewings are still available online at
Flying Scotsman At The Bluebell Railway 2023 – Bluebell Railway in Sussex (bluebell-railway.com)

These will also allow visitors to walk through the corridor tender and talk to locomotive crews to find out what driving the locomotive is really like.

This will not be Flying Scotsman’s first visit to the Bluebell Railway as it visited the railway in 2017 when people travelled from far and wide to view the famous locomotive.

Flying Scotsman was the first locomotive to be built by the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway in 1923. It was originally numbered 1472), but renumbered as 4472 in 1924 and named Flying Scotsman after the daily 10.00 train service from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh. After British Railways was formed in 1948 it was renumbered 60103.

Paul Churchman, Chairman, Bluebell Railway PLC, said “We are delighted that Flying Scotsman will fly south to visit us from 23rd Aug – 3rd September. An event like this creates a buzz of excitement for our hardworking employees and volunteers and we look forward to welcoming the thousands of ticket holders who are all keen to get close to arguably the most famous and iconic steam locomotive in the UK and probably the world”.