Hello friends.
Despite the continued rain in many parts of the UK this week, I hope you have all had a good week. If you live in other parts of the world and visit us here, I hope the weather has been better for you, too.
On Wednesday, hubby and I went on a very special train ride, which we had booked a few weeks beforehand.
I had seen an advertisement for tickets to ride on the Flying Scotsman and thought it would be a fun thing for us to do, creating some special memories to share. The locomotive was only in Birmingham for a few days, and so we booked tickets for a ride.
As it was only a short trip, the outbound journey used a standard diesel locomotive, but the return was pulled by The Flying Scotsman. It was a very popular event, and lots of enthusiasts turned out to enjoy it with us. Ours was the first journey of the day, and to start everything off, we were treated to a piper playing his bagpipes for us.
We all had allocated seats, which made life easier, and everyone was seated in carriages very quickly. Each carriage had its own train steward to assist us and provide necessary information. As we travelled along the tracks, we saw people waving and taking photos as we passed by, an experience for them too. All too soon, we were back at Moor St station, taking our own photos and holding on to the memories of this fantastic day. Even better, it stayed dry for the whole trip!
The Flying Scotsman
The Flying Scotsman, built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) in Doncaster, was designed by the British railway engineer Nigel Gresley.
It was built as a long-distance express passenger train. On 30th November 1934, it gained a world record for steam traction by becoming the first locomotive to reach the officially authenticated speed of 100 miles per hour.
It was retired from active regular service in 1963, but it continued to serve on tours and at other events.
When it toured Australia in 1989, it set another record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive at 422 miles.
In 2004, to preserve this wonderful piece of machinery, the locomotive was bought by the National Railway Museum in York so that many more people could enjoy it.
In its centenary year of 2023, a £2 coin featuring The Flying Scotsman was issued. Also, the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, composed a poem about the iconic train, and an all-female crew operated a journey for only the second time in its history.
The Flying Scotsman has also appeared in several television programmes about trains, including guest appearances in the Railway series by Rev. W. E. Awdry's Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.
One of the specially produced £5 coins for the 2012 Summer Olympics featured The Flying Scotsman on the reverse.
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Both hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed our short journey on this famous locomotive and were glad we had the experience. Steam engines are wonderful pieces of engineering and bring back memories of a bygone age.
If you have a fun event to look forward to this week, I hope the weather stays dry, and you have a great time. If it is another ordinary week, I hope there's something to make you smile, too.
Thinking of all the friends who visit D and me here. Thank you all.
B and D xx
I'm glad to read that you had such a great time! I'd seen the advert for this too, though reluctantly didn't go. Wonderful photos!
ReplyDeleteIt was one of those snap decisions to buy the tickets but it was worth every penny. We had a lovely few hours. Thank you for the kind words about the photos.
DeleteWow, what an amazing experience, and one to look back on with joy. So glad you had the good weather too.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fabulous experience and now I want to do more steam train rides. We picked the best day of the three days on offer, as it rained on the other days.
DeleteBeautiful photos! I love trains! I have never been on a sleeper or diner train, just commuter trains here in Montreal. Thank you so much for sharing your journey! I really appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteThere is something very special about riding on a steam train that evokes images of a bygone age. Glad you enjoyed sharing the journey and the photos. It was a great trip.
DeleteOh a big WOW from me!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing and very special experience.
I did enjoy seeing all of your photographs, a special day indeed.
Hope you have a good new week, just think it's the last one this February!
Eek! The days fly by so quickly.
My good wishes.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. It was quite hard taking the photos as there were so many people, but I think they convey a little of the fun time we had. It was a day to remember and I'm glad hubby and I were able to share the experience together.
DeleteEnjoy the rest of your week as we head towards a new month and Spring not far behind.
What a fabulous experience, Beverley. Im so glad you enjoyed it. It was the chance of a lifetime 😄
ReplyDeleteAngie x
It was a fantastic trip and I'm glad we had the opportunity to travel on this special piece of locomotive history.
DeleteWhat a wonderful experience. It sounds like you had a great day out and with good weather too. I love steam trains, there is something very special about them:)
ReplyDeleteWe had a wonderful time, thank you Rosie. The smell and sound of the steam engine is evocative of past eras. I really love steam trains and this was a great steam adventure.
DeleteWhat fun! There are a number of enthusiasts in the local area who exchange information about expected sightings of steam trains, but the Flying Scotsman is very special.
ReplyDeleteI think all steam train are fun to ride on and the Flying Scotsman was something very special. Hubby and I really enjoyed our journey.
DeleteWhat a fabulous experience. It's wonderful that we're able to make these special memories which we're able to look back on.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good day and we have some wonderful memories of travelling in a vintage carriage pulled by this famous engine.
DeleteI'm green with e
ReplyDeletenvy. In a nice kind of way. The flying Scotsman is on my list of must do
Things. I be it was wonderful
😁 If you get a chance it is a really brilliant ride.
DeleteWhat fun! I love taking the train. Did you know that our weather here in Oregon mirrors yours very closely? So rain for us too.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about the similarities with the weather. Today was a no rain day and tomorrow will be the same. Then it will be back to drizzly rain but warmer. I can cope with that.
DeleteSteam trains are always fun to ride.
Fantastic! We often enjoy watching steam trains pass by. I'm hoping to see the Blue Peter next week. Xx
ReplyDeleteThat looks like another great steam train ,which was built at the same Doncaster works as the Flying Scotsman. Just a younger sibling 😊 I hope it is a dry day when you see the Blue Peter.
DeleteHave a good week, Jules x
This was a lot of fun to read and see those super photos! I have heard of The Flying Scotsman but didn't know much about it so I appreciate all the information, thank you so much! It's been ages since I got on a train. Have lovely memories of the old steam engines from my childhood. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed seeing the photos and reading about this wondeful train. We also travelled on a more conventional train to get to the starting point for our special trip and I was pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable that was too. Enjoy the rest of your week.
DeleteWow what a fun experience! I am adding this train ride to my bucketlist!
ReplyDeleteWow, what an amazing experience! 😍 Riding the Flying Scotsman is such a bucket-list adventure, and I love that you and your hubby got to create those special memories together. There’s something magical about sitting on a vintage train, watching the scenery glide by, and feeling that sense of history all around you. 🚂✨
ReplyDeleteEven with the UK’s rainy weather, it sounds like the perfect midweek treat — a little escape from the ordinary. I can just imagine the excitement as the locomotive pulled out of the station, knowing this iconic piece of history was right there with you. Truly a ride to remember!
Thank you.
DeleteSounds like a very good adventure.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lot of fun. Thanks, Ivy
Delete❤️
DeleteWhat a wonderful ride on that old steam locomotive with its historic carriages! It's a truly beautiful piece of British history and engineering. And it's fantastic that you both got to enjoy one of the few rides available.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely post.