‘Scotsman’ the star attraction for KX’s 170th birthday

ONE hundred and seventy years of King’s Cross station were celebrated with the display of A3 steam locomotive Flying Scotsman on October 14-16.

The first day, reserved for media and guests, coincided with the exact anniversary of the opening of the original Great Northern Railway station. It was followed by two days of public display and access.

Network Rail Chairman Sir Peter Hendy CBE highlighted the unique public attraction of “the most popular locomotive in the world”, which was positioned throughout at the buffer stops on Platform 8.

“We can’t get in the way of the normal railway, but actually our own people like doing this,” he told RAIL. “A lot of the 170th anniversary stuff here has been done by the station staff. What could you not like about this?”

Hendy was joined in visiting the footplate of the National Railway Museum’s 99-year-old locomotive by NR Chief Executive Andrew Haines. And pre-recorded station announcements by MP-turnedtravel presenter Michael Portillo proclaimed ‘Scotsman’s’ litany of speed and non-stop records, while a brass band accompanied frequent blasts on the locomotive’s shrill whistle.

The 1923, Doncaster-built ‘Pacific’ has just emerged from major overhaul at Riley & Son (E) Ltd in Lancashire, granting it at least seven more years of main line operation.

The NRM used the exhibition as an opportunity to launch its programme of Flying Scotsman centenary events in 2023. This so far comprises 11 Railway Touring Company-promoted charters that will feature the ‘Pacific’ visiting Plymouth, Cardiff, Great

Yarmouth, Aberdeen and points in between.

Thirty years ago, steam was prohibited from entering ‘The Cross’. Today it is embraced by the railway as part of its public relations exercises.

“I think the whole thing has come a long way,” added Hendy. “Working on the railways is not just a job, it’s a vocation. And people do like it - and the fact that it has great history, iconic buildings and iconic trains is terrific.”

This isn’t the first time that Flying Scotsman has been used to promote the contemporary railway. Its London North Eastern Railway parentage made it especially useful in publicity terms to the 21st century train operating company of the same name.

LNER express trains old and new stand cheek-by-jowl at King’s Cross during the evening rush hour on October 14.