00:00The story of The Flying Scotsman is one of triumph, heartbreak, innovation, and perseverance.
00:06It's a tale that weaves together the threads of engineering excellence, national pride,
00:10and the passion of those who both loved and, at times, despised the locomotive.
00:16The Flying Scotsman, a name synonymous with British railway history,
00:21evokes powerful emotions and stirs memories in the hearts of many.
00:25It's a love-hate saga that stretches over decades, involving record-breaking achievements,
00:31financial ruin, and miraculous rescues, all of which make The Flying Scotsman much more than just a train
00:37it's a symbol of British industrial heritage.
00:40This story dives deep into The Flying Scotsman's rise to fame, its many struggles,
00:45and how it became a worldwide sensation.
00:48From its humble beginnings in Doncaster to its triumphant non-stop runs,
00:52to the drama of being stranded in the U.S. and then its final redemption in Britain
00:57This is the complete and dramatic account of one of the most famous trains ever built.
01:02The tale of The Flying Scotsman begins on February 24, 1923,
01:07when it was officially rolled out at the Doncaster Works.
01:11This powerful locomotive, designed by Sir Nigel Gressley,
01:15was the first to bear the mark of the newly formed London and Northeastern Railway, LNER.
01:21Given the number 1472, it was part of the A1 class of engines,
01:28the most powerful locomotives used by the LNER at that time.
01:32Its design was nothing short of ground-breaking,
01:35a machine built for speed, efficiency, and long-haul travel between the major cities of London and Edinburgh.
01:42Sir Nigel Gressley, a brilliant engineer, had a vision.
01:46He wanted to push the boundaries of what locomotives could achieve,
01:50especially in terms of speed and distance.
01:54The A1 class was his brainchild, and The Flying Scotsman was its crown jewel.
01:58In 1924, The Flying Scotsman was renumbered as the LNER at the British Empire Exhibition in London that year,
02:07an event that would elevate it to national prominence.
02:10The exhibition was a massive success,
02:13with over 27 million people visiting from all over the British Empire.
02:18But it was The Flying Scotsman that stole the show.
02:21It was sleek, powerful, and no more about this incredible machine.
02:26The British Empire Exhibition cemented The Flying Scotsman's place in history,
02:31and it soon became the face of LNER's publicity campaigns,
02:35appearing in brochures, posters, and promotional films.
02:39The Flying Scotsman's true claim to fame came in 1928 when it made history
02:44with the first ever non-stop service from London to Edinburgh on May 1st.
02:49Thanks to a new tender design, which featured a corridor allowing the crew to change without stopping,
02:54the train completed the journey in just over eight hours, an impressive feat for the time.
03:00The public and the press were enthralled,
03:02and The Flying Scotsman became the embodiment of modern engineering.
03:06But the train wasn't done making headlines.
03:10In 1934, The Flying Scotsman set another record that would solidify its place in history.
03:17During a special test run, it became the first steam locomotive in the UK to reach 100 mph.
03:24This was a milestone not only for the LNER but for British railways in general.
03:29At a time when diesel engines were starting to emerge,
03:33the Flying Scotsman proved that steam power still had what it took to reach high speeds.
03:38The 100 mph speed record was a huge boost to LNER's directors,
03:43who were contemplating the move to diesel power.
03:46The test run convinced them that their steam engines could compete,
03:50at least for a while longer.
03:52The Flying Scotsman was now not just a symbol of British engineering
03:56but a testament to the power and potential of steam locomotion.
04:00The outbreak of World War II in 1939 changed the landscape of Britain in many ways,
04:06and the railways were no exception.
04:08The Flying Scotsman, like all LNER passenger locomotives,
04:13was repainted in wartime black, a stark contrast to its usual apple green.
04:18It soldiered on through the war, hauling passengers and supplies across the country,
04:24but by the time the war ended, it had lost some of its former glory.
04:28In 1948, the railways were nationalized,
04:32and the Flying Scotsman became part of British railways.
04:36It was renumbered American Samoa 60103
04:40and was repainted in blue for a time before settling into its new livery of BR Green.
04:45Despite the changes, it continued to serve faithfully,
04:49but the...
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