Flying Scotsman to steam through Shropshire this week
It is the most iconic engine of them all – and this week Flying Scotsman will be steaming through Shropshire.
The much-loved locomotive will be travelling between Cardiff and Shrewsbury on Friday.
It is part of a 'Days Out with Flying Scotsman' trip which has already sold out.
But the visit is something of a best kept secret, for fears crowds will spill on to the line.
Organisers have remained tight-lipped over exactly what time the locomotive will be in the county due to the amount of public interest the visit could attract.
But it is expected to depart Shrewsbury Railway Station around lunchtime.
Last year Flying Scotsman arrived at the Severn Valley Railway.
It was the fourth visit that Flying Scotsman had made to the SVR, with the last being before its overhaul in 1994.
Its renovation was completed last year at a cost of £4.2million.
Flying Scotsman was originally built in Doncaster for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER), emerging from the works on 24 February 1923 and initially numbered 1472. It was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley as part of the A1 class – the most powerful locomotives used by the railway.
By 1924, when it was selected to appear at the British Empire Exhibition in London, the loco had been renumbered 4472 – and been given the name ‘Flying Scotsman’ after the London to Edinburgh rail service which started daily at 10am in 1862.
It was the first steam engine authenticated at travelling at 100mph in November 1934.
