Flying Scotsman to head up railway celebrations

The Flying Scotsman will be at the railway festival for two days

The Flying Scotsman steam locomotive is to appear in a railway festival next month.

Built in 1923, the legendary engine will feature in the Titans of Steam event at Hopetown Darlington on 20 and 21 September.

It is visiting the area as part of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the opening of Stockton and Darlington Railway on 27 September 1825.

Mike Crawshaw, Darlington Borough Council's head of heritage and culture, said: "This locomotive is more than just a piece of machinery – it's a living legend. Its inclusion is a tribute not only to its engineering brilliance but also to the millions of fans who have followed its journey through the decades."

The railway festival, which takes place from 20 September to 5 October, will also showcase other historical locomotives from across the country including The A1 Peppercorn Class Tornado, the last steam locomotive built in Darlington.

Sarah Price, head of Locomotion museum in Shildon, County Durham, said: "In the month that we are celebrating 200 years of the modern railway, it is only right that the world's most famous locomotive is part of the Titans of Steam festival.

"Having seen how much visitors have enjoyed getting up close to the engine whilst at Locomotion, we know that its presence will bring much joy to those attending the event at Hopetown Darlington."

The locomotive was the first to reach 100mph on a test run

Sir Nigel Gresley designed and built more than 2,000 locomotives including the Flying Scotsman.

It was built in Doncaster for the London and North Eastern Railway and was designed as part of the A1 class.

The Flying Scotsman is known for performing the first continuous London to Edinburgh trip in 1928, completing the journey in eight hours.

It was also the first locomotive in the UK to reach 100mph on a test run in 1934.