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Chronicle Live
National
David Morton

The Flying Scotsman, the world's most famous steam engine, in the North East 40 years ago

The Flying Scotsman was in the region 40 years ago.

The locomotive was photographed steaming through the Northumberland countryside at Greenhead, near Haltwhistle, on March 14, 1982.

Travelling on this occasion between the East and West of the country, the world's most famous steam engine earned its reputation speeding back and forth between the North and the South.

READ MORE: Tyneside 100 years ago - in 10 photographs

The loco was built in Doncaster for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER).

It was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, and first rolled on to the tracks in February 1923.

In 1924, the engine was exhibited at the Empire Exhibition at Wembley.

Given the number 4472, the Flying Scotsman made a daily 10am London to Edinburgh run and, in 1934, became the first steam train to reach speeds of 100mph.

Its name derived from the nickname of the fastest express train service between London and Edinburgh, and was first used in the late 1800s.

Each morning, at 10am, two express trains, one from Edinburgh and one from London, would leave on their 390-mile journeys. They were known, respectively, as the ‘Down Scotsman’ and the ‘Up Scotsman’ - each service passing through Newcastle Central Station en route.

During the General Strike of 1926, a group of striking miners sabotaged the track at Cramlington and the train was derailed. No one was killed but one man was seriously injured.

The renowned engine was withdrawn from service in 1963.

It toured the United States and Canada between 1969 and 1973, taking in Boston, New York, Washington DC, Montreal, Toronto and San Francisco, covering a total of 15,400 miles.

Full steam ahead for the Flying Scotsman at Greenhead, Northumberland, March 14, 1982 (Newcastle Chronicle)

Over the years, the Flying Scotsman has returned to its old stomping ground in the North East on many occasions.

The engine became publicly owned in 2004 and a £4.2m restoration began.

In May, 2016, we reported how thousands of rail enthusiasts turned out to see the refurbished loco return to the North East.

And last summer, crowds flocked to see the classic engine when it spent a week at the national railway museum at Shildon in County Durham.

For more Chronicle nostalgia, including archive pictures and local history stories, click here to sign up to our free newsletter.

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