- Flying Scotsman’s stay at Locomotion extended until September 1
- Over 5,000 people have already ridden behind famous locomotive during ‘Summer at Locomotion’ festival
- More rides, tours and ‘footplate experiences’ released to book today
Flying Scotsman’s stay at Locomotion has been extended until 1 September.
The world-famous locomotive is in taking part in the museum’s Summer at Locomotion festival and was originally due to leave site on 18 August.
Over 5,000 people have already taken a ride on a train hauled by Flying Scotsman during the festival. More opportunities to book a ride have been released today, plus a limited number of previously sold-out exclusive ‘footplate experiences’, which offer a once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride alongside the driver in the cab.
Due to popular demand, Locomotion is now also offering footplate experiences on a replica of Stephenson’s Rocket and the 08 Diesel Shunter. Behind-the-scenes tours of Flying Scotsman’s support coach have also been extended until the end the festival.
A free ‘Shildon-by-the-Sea’ pop-up beach and a host of kids’ activities are also on offer during the festival. A boredom-busting week of Lego themed activities will run as the school holidays wind down. Food stalls are also available on site to compliment the museum’s cafe.
Flying Scotsman will also be on static display on selected dates with an opportunity to explore the cab. The availability of experiences varies according to the date of visit and full details are available on the Locomotion website.
Lead sponsor Hornby are displaying a special model railway layout during the festival, running the ‘Flying Scotsman’ with Steam Generator model locomotive and a selection of hands-on railway themed activities. CrossCountry have also sponsored the six-week event.
Sarah Price, Head of Locomotion, said: “Summer at Locomotion has been a huge hit so far. I’m thrilled that our visitors will now get the chance to experience Flying Scotsman up close right up until the end of the school holidays, and there’s so much going on besides. Come and join our summer celebrations!”
Locomotion now boasts the largest undercover collection of historic rail vehicles in Europe, with over 100 vehicles on display. A new 47-vehicle collections building was added in May 2024, alongside other improvements to the site.
Highlights of the collection include Locomotion No.1, which hauled the world’s first passenger train on the Stockton and Darlington railway in 1825. Rocket and Sans Pareil are also on display— together again after they faced off in the historic 1829 Rainhill Trials.
A model railway weekend in association with Locomotion Models will also take place, including a large-scale model railway layout in front of the museum’s Main Hall.
Hornby Marketing Manager Catherine Dunning said: "We are thrilled to be the lead sponsor of Summer at Locomotion. This partnership highlights our dedication to celebrating railway history and inspiring future generations of train enthusiasts.
“At Hornby, we believe in the magic of railways and their ability to inspire, educate, and entertain. We look forward to celebrating the history and excitement of rail and we hope this event will inspire and captivate railway enthusiasts of all ages."
Ben Simkin, Director of CrossCountry’s North East & Scotland Region, said: “We’re pleased to support Summer and Locomotion and hope that as many visitors as possible can make it to Shildon over the holidays. While Flying Scotsman has proved to be a scene-stealer, it’s great to be able to enjoy such a range of railway heritage whilst also educating young people on the history and contribution of the railway in Britain.”
Early-morning sessions for visitors with sensory needs who wish to explore the museum in a quieter environment are also available. Locomotion has recently been fitted with an accessible ‘changing places’ facility for visitors with additional access needs.
ENDS
For more information, please contact James Rose, Press and PR Manager 01904 929517 / james.rose@railwaymuseum.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
ABOUT LOCOMOTION
- Admission to Locomotion is free. Rides and some experiences are chargeable and must be booked. Availability of rides and experiences varies according to the date of visit. Details are available at: www.locomotion.org.uk
- Locomotion offers visitors the chance to see highlights of the national collection of railway vehicles in Shildon - the world’s first railway town
- Locomotion forms part of the Science Museum Group, along with the Science Museum in London, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford and the National Railway Museum in York
- Locomotion is a partnership between the Science Museum Group and Durham County Council, which is a major funder of the museum
ABOUT FLYING SCOTSMAN
- Flying Scotsman was built in Doncaster in February 1923, as an A1 class locomotive and converted to an A3 class in 1947.
- It was the first locomotive of the newly formed LNER (London and North Eastern Railway). Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and numbered 1472, the locomotive was not named ‘Flying Scotsman’ until the following year when it was picked to attend the British Empire Exhibition in London and renumbered 4472. The locomotive went on to operate in service until 1963 and later in preservation, which included tours of the USA, Canada and Australia.
- Today the locomotive is part of the Science Museum Group collection and is owned by the National Railway Museum in York.
- Weight: 97 tonnes
- Length: 70ft
- Officially the first steam locomotive to reach 100mph in 1934
- Flying Scotsman was the first locomotive to circumnavigate the globe visiting the USA, Canada and Australia
ABOUT HORNBY
- First introduced in 1920, Hornby has become the brand leader of '00' Gauge model railways in Britain. Throughout its long history, Hornby has produced iconic sets, highly detailed locomotives and more. With model railways making their way into modern life, Hornby continues to innovate and keep the hobby relevant for the experienced modeller as well as the new generation of young railway enthusiasts.
ABOUT CROSSCOUNTRY
- CrossCountry is a long-distance passenger train operator, with a network stretching from Aberdeen to Penzance and from Stansted to Cardiff and calling at over 100 stations. Based in Birmingham, CrossCountry connects seven of Britain’s 10 largest cities and delivers 240 services every weekday, equating to over 42 million passenger journeys each year. For further information on CrossCountry services, visit crosscountrytrains.co.uk, or visit @crosscountryuk on X or facebook.com/crosscountrytrains on Facebook.
