The Flying Scotsman is woven into British culture. It appears in the 1975 film The Flying Scotsman, of course, but also makes a cameo in episodes of The Crown and even in the Thomas the Tank Engine series. It’s the train that inspired Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Express, albeit with a more glamorous pedigree.
Heres where you can see the Flying Scotsman in Gloucestershire
In 2026, the locomotive returned to its original LNER apple green livery after a lengthy overhaul. That paint job is a piece of art, with 15 layers of paint applied by hand. The name itself is a nod to the legendary 10:00 AM London to Edinburgh service, which it once hauled daily.
Oh, and it has a whistle that can be heard from two miles away. It’s a deep, commanding whoosh, not a toot—a sound that makes strangers on the platform smile at each other. It’s communal joy in a single note.
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For the absolute best insider access, join the Flying Scotsman’s mailing list on the National Railway Museum website. They send out a monthly update called ‘Steam News’ that includes exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and last-minute schedule changes. It’s like getting a backstage pass to a rock star’s tour bus.
Alternatively, visit the museum’s own YouTube channel. They livestream the locomotive’s departures occasionally, so you can watch the spectacle from your sofa. Add some tea and a jammy dodger, and you’ve got a perfect lazy Sunday.
