‘Scotsman’ to run until 2032
Celebrity ‘A3’ to get fresh ‘ten-year’ ticket in 2022, allowing it to steam beyond centenary year.
Flying Scotsman is to have a main line certificate until 2029 after its overhaul to prepare it for its centenary in 2023. The confirmation comes from the National Railway Museum, which has said it will also enable the option of a further three years on private lines for the ‘A3’, taking it to 2032.
York has, however, only confirmed that it would run its Gresley ‘Pacific’ up to the end of the current operations agreement with Riley and Son (E). This lasts until the end of No. 60103’s centenary season in four years’ time, meaning a new deal would be required from that point.
No announcement has yet been made as to whether the rebuild of the Doncaster locomotive, which is to take place in 2022 under the existing Riley and Son (E) contract, will also include a return to single-chimney condition for the first time since the 1990s.
‘Scotsman’s’ last boiler overhaul was completed by Riley in late 2015
and the LNER 4-6-2 returned to the main line in January 2016.
● The ‘A3’ is booked to appear on three more railtour dates this year: August 25: Paddington-Oxford Parkway and Oxford circular (Steam Dreams Rail Co.)
December 14: Liverpool Lime Street-Carlisle (West Coast Railways) December 21: Manchester-Carlisle (West Coast Railways)
It will also be in steam at Locomotion, Shildon between July 26 and August 12, and is due to make a return visit to the Nene Valley Railway on September 28-30.
● For more on Flying Scotsman, see Down Main, pages 62-67.