World famous locomotive, 60103 Flying Scotsman, is set to visit the Swanage Railway this October.
Owned by the National Railway Museum, the LNER A3 is set to visit for 19 days from Wednesday 19th October until Sunday 6th November 2022.
The locomotive is currently undergoing an overhaul, but the locomotive will haul passenger trains from Swanage to Corfe Castle and Norden for five days from Sunday 22nd October until Wednesday 26th October.
Flying Scotsman will then be on static display at Swanage on Thursday 20th October and Friday 21st October 2022 as well as from Thursday 27th October until Sunday 6th November 2022.
The Swanage Railway's volunteer commercial director Marcus Alldrick said: “The trustees, directors, staff and dedicated volunteers of the Swanage Railway are delighted that the Railway has been successful in its bid to again host ‘Flying Scotsman' which celebrates its centenary during February, 2023.
“We are extremely grateful to the National Railway Museum for again giving the Swanage Railway the opportunity to host such an historic event to operate and display the world famous ‘Flying Scotsman' which is such a charismatic icon and turns 100 years old on 24 February, 2023.
“It will be marvellous to admire No. 60103 hauling the unique Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage – known as Car 14 – because they operated as a pair across the USA between 1969 and 1972,” explained Marcus who is a volunteer porter on the popular Purbeck heritage line.
Swanage Railway Trust trustee and Swanage Railway Company chairman Robert Patterson explained: “With uniformed attendants serving champagne and canapés to passengers on board the Devon Belle Pullman observation carriage, Car 14 will be coupled directly behind ‘Flying Scotsman' when it hauls trains on the Swanage Railway.
“That will give Pullman passengers a rare chance to enjoy the delights of travelling in style behind, and watching, the world's most famous steam locomotive as it travels through the beautiful Purbeck countryside and past the historic ruins of Corfe Castle.
“‘Flying Scotsman' visited the Swanage Railway in March, 2019, and the reaction from the public seeing and hearing the charismatic leviathan of steam at work was amazing and proved that the iconic locomotive still has a special place in people's hearts,” added Bob who is also a volunteer station porter on the Swanage Railway.
