The Flying Scotsman £4.2million restoration nearly complete

The final restoration touches are being made in Bury, Greater Manchester, where the world’s best locomotive will be shortly on track. The 96 ton, 70 feet long steam engine is schedule to undertake final test runs on 23rd January 2016, along the East Lancashire Railway and the Railway Tourism Company’s Manchester-Carlisle route, where huge crowds are expected along sections of the route. The museum bought the engine after the steam engine was retired from service by British Rail in 1963, and in 2004, a £1.8 million grant was awarded from the National Heritage Memorial Fund with an additional £ 365, 000 gift from Sir Richard Branson and £415,000 in public donations. The work included an overhaul of the Flying Scotsman’s boiler, and creation of a new fire box-an area where the fuel is burned, including a new chassis.

The famous Flying Scotsman locomotive, the first locomotive to break the 100mph speed barrier, was designed by sir Nigel Gresley, built in Doncaster for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) in 1923, is being restored by specialist engineers at Bury-based Riley and Son Ltd. From early next year the Flying Scotsman will be able to be viewed around the United Kingdom as a working museum exhibit.