| Brief History: The Flying Scotsman was the name | | | | will always be remembered as No. 4472. Following |
| given to a scheduled railway service, the 10.00 London | | | | nationalization of the railways in 1948, Flying Scotsman |
| Kings Cross to Edinburgh and the returning 13.00 | | | | was yet again re-numbered as BR 60103 and |
| Edinburgh service to the capital. | | | | continued in service until her withdrawal from the main |
| Initially this service started way back in 1862 and the | | | | line in 1963. |
| journey lasted, on average, 10 1/2 hours. This included a | | | | By this time, the 10.00 and 13.00 return service had |
| stop over at York for dinner and a comfort break at | | | | been taken over by the Deltics, a diesel locomotive |
| Newcastle (no lavatories on the train back in | | | | class that would eventually gain as much popularity as |
| yesteryear). Following the First World War, a great | | | | their steam predecessors. |
| deal of rebuilding to the railway network was | | | | Flying Scotsman was rescued from the cutters torch, |
| undertaken including wholesale building of new steam | | | | a fate that befell the majority of her classmates and |
| locomotives. | | | | after a lengthy restoration and journeys around the |
| With many well documented steam locomotives | | | | world as a showcase, now has pride of place at the |
| coming off the drawing boards, one of the most | | | | National Rail Museum in York (UK). |
| admired was the A3 designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for | | | | At the time of writing, the Flying Scotsman is in the |
| the Great Northern Railway (GNR). One particular A3, | | | | capable hands of engineers at York NRM and is |
| built in 1923, was unceremoniously given the GNR | | | | subject to a total restoration. The plan is to have this |
| number 1472N and carried the new London and North | | | | locomotive back to her exquisite best and prepared |
| Eastern Railway branding. This locomotive was soon | | | | for a return to main line service again in 2011, almost 50 |
| re-numbered to 4472. | | | | years after withdrawal. Over the years, many models |
| Although all of her A3 stable mates were named after | | | | have been produced of the Flying Scotsman both in |
| racehorses, in 1924, 4472 was named 'Flying | | | | HO, OO and O gauge. |
| Scotsman' and so the legend began. With quality and | | | | One of the most popular by far is the much improved |
| speed improvements over the East Coast main line, it | | | | Hornby Flying Scotsman. |
| was decided that on 1st May 1928 there would be the | | | | This is a super model with an immaculate finish and |
| first non-stop timetabled passenger service between | | | | has lovely detailing. It is produced in a variety of guises |
| Kings Cross and Edinburgh. | | | | - as an individual model, as a limited edition or in the |
| The decision was taken that 4472 Flying Scotsman | | | | very popular Hornby train set with complementary |
| was to haul the very first run over the 392 mile | | | | coaches, track and an AC power controller. The |
| distance. This became a record for a scheduled | | | | Hornby model inspires any layout depending on the era |
| service and set the standard that the competing | | | | as you can find most variants of the livery / running |
| pre-nationalized railway companies had to content with. | | | | number to suit. |
| 4472 also entered folklore. | | | | As there have been so many variations of this model |
| Though many locomotives hauled the 10.00 from Kings | | | | over the decades, the continuation of production and |
| Cross and 13.00 from Edinburgh, it was 4472 the Flying | | | | the enhancements to the moulding prove that the |
| Scotsman that will forever and a day be synonymous | | | | Flying Scotsman romance is still as strong as ever |
| with the majesty of East Coast travel. | | | | both in model form and in reality. The Hornby model |
| As well as having such a famous name, the Flying | | | | accurately reflects the original and is a testament to |
| Scotsman will also be remembered as the first steam | | | | the beauty and finesse associated with 4472 |
| engine to reach the milestone of 100mph in 1934. | | | | powering up the East Coast with that eponymous |
| Although Flying Scotsman was re-numbered on three | | | | headboard on the front of the locomotive - the Flying |
| further occasions to 502, 103 and eventually E103, she | | | | Scotsman. |