Flying Scotsman at East Lancashire Railway
Sarah Gaffney-Lang, Families Editor
This summer, East Lancashire Railway is welcoming the incredibly iconic Flying Scotsman back to the tracks following the unfortunate coronavirus related cancellations at Easter.
The one-off trips are taking place between 29 August and 5 September are the first opportunity for members of the public to experience the Flying Scotsman in 2021.
The splendid views of undulating Lancashire hills and market towns like Ramsbottom are not only breath-taking, but also provide plenty of opportunities for family games of I-spy.
If, like many parents, you have spent the last few months entertaining the kids indoors, or on walks, then the opportunity to do something completely different and extremely exciting like, a trip on an extraordinary steam train, is simply not to be missed.
Locomotive No. 60103 – Flying Scotsman really is the stuff of legends. Not least because, incredibly, it was the world’s first steam train to officially travel at 100 miles per hour, subsequently securing its pivotal place in British rail history.
What’s more, it has northern roots. Built in 1923, in Doncaster, for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), it was designed to haul express passengers on a new non-stop route between London and Edinburgh.
Despite its widespread adoration, in 2004, its future was uncertain due to a crisis over ownership until thankfully, it was saved by the National Railway Museum who, along with the public and others, took it over. Since then, the locomotive has been lovingly restored at the Bury Engineering Works of Riley & Sons (E) and in 2016 it took to the tracks again, waved off by huge crowds.
Departing from Bury station, take a pew in one of its historic carriages and prepare for the distinctive sound of the pistons firing up followed by a big choo choo! The splendid views of undulating Lancashire hills and market towns like Ramsbottom are not only breath-taking, but also provide plenty of opportunities for family games of I-spy.
There’s a gift shop and trackside bar which has now reopened – ready to serve up some cold ones.
So, celebrate steam’s golden age with your little ones! A trip on the Flying Scotsman at East Lancashire Railway is not to be missed.
Tickets are valid for a one time return journey from Bury to Rawtenstall and then back to Bury on the same Flying Scotsman Service. The journey will take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The service is operating in line with current government guidelines with seats being allocated based upon social distancing measures.
