Flying Scotsman’s first 2025 touring dates announced

The legendary engine, owned by the National Railway Museum, will visit two heritage railways in Spring, with more trips set to be announced later in the year. The announced dates also include an Easter visit to the National Railway Museum in York and a summer residence at sister museum, Locomotion, in County Durham.

Flying Scotsman will make its first excursion at the Nene Valley Railway from February 22nd until March 9th, with a mix of static display and passenger rides available on selected days. Three evening dining trains are also planned, along with a photo charter, which will see Flying Scotsman haul a freight train for the first time since 1994. Tickets are available now on the Nene Valley Railway website.

The locomotive will return to York for Easter, where it will be on display from April 5-20th within the National Railway Museum’s Flying Scotsman Story exhibition, as a highlight of the museum’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

From May 12th to June 2nd, Flying Scotsman will visit Didcot Railway Centre in Oxfordshire, with rides available on selected dates, where it will be reunited with the GWR 4073 Castle Class locomotive, Pendennis Castle. Both engines were formerly owned by Sir William McAlpine and share a rich history of rivalry and international adventure.  Tickets will be available on the Didcot Railway Centre website from mid-February.

Flying Scotsman will then triumphantly return to the North East to spend summer at Locomotion from July 26th to August 25th, with a mix of display and steam ride days on selected days, during a six-week summer festival.

More trips are now in the planning stage, with details set to be released later in the year. Flying Scotsman’s engagements in 2025 will be targeted at heritage railway lines to allow access to a broad range of family audiences throughout the railway’s bicentenary year. 

Following a competitive tender process, Northern Steam Operations Limited (NSOL) has been appointed as Flying Scotsman’s custodian after signing a contract to manage and maintain the locomotive until 2032.

NSOL will work with DB Cargo as the first Train Operating Company, who bring a wealth of experience in running both freight and passenger trains, including the operation of the Royal Train and the British Pullman.

In 2024, almost 320,000 people viewed, climbed aboard, or took a ride on Flying Scotsman during its stays at the National Railway Museum and Locomotion, with thousands more set for a memorable encounter in 2025, as the UK celebrates Railway 200 – the bicentenary of the modern railway. The National Railway Museum and Locomotion are key partners in the year-long national celebration. 

All dates are subject to change, please refer to the National Railway Museum website for updates.

Your weekly World of Railways newsletter

Are you subscribed to our weekly email newsletter? Don't miss the latest news, reviews, modelling advice and competitions.