The Flying Scotsman Running Events

Book Travel, Dining, and Live Steam Viewing

LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman is a 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) at Doncaster Works to a design of Nigel Gresley. It was employed on long-distance express East Coast Main Line trains by the LNER and its successors, British Railways Eastern and North-Eastern Regions, notably on the London to Edinburgh Flying Scotsman train service after which it was named.

The locomotive set two world records for steam traction, becoming the first steam locomotive to be officially authenticated at reaching 100 miles per hour (161 km/h) on 30 November 1934, and then setting a record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive when it ran 422 miles (679 km) on 8 August 1989 while in Australia.

Retired from regular service in 1963 after covering 2.08 million miles, Flying Scotsman enjoyed considerable fame in preservation under the ownership of, successively, Alan Pegler, William McAlpine, Tony Marchington, and finally the National Railway Museum (NRM).

As well as hauling enthusiast specials in the United Kingdom, the locomotive toured extensively in the United States and Canada from 1969 until 1973 and Australia in 1988 and 1989. Flying Scotsman has been described as the world’s most famous steam locomotive.


This is where you can book tickets for The Flying Scotsman ‘running’ events. this means the locomotive will be ‘in service and in steam’.

We are offering a variety of different ways to experience this giant mechanical marvel whilst it’s living and breathing.

Timetables for these days will be made available in due course.

Please read this carefully, as each option is slightly different.

Travel on the Sunset Scotsman- SOLD OUT

Be part of a very special and exclusive sunset journey behind Flying Scotsman.

Join us in the Victorian splendor of Sheffield Park Station for a reception of Pimms (or a non alcoholic fruit cocktail) and canapes served from 5:30pm, then step on board to travel behind the iconic and much-loved locomotive through 11 miles of beautiful Sussex countryside.

Departure is at 6:15pm, so there will be time to get up close to see the engine at Sheffield Park Station and get that all important photograph before you depart on the non-stop, return trip to East Grinstead. Starting in daylight, your 1 hour 40-minute trip ends in sunset – giving a perfect opportunity to experience steam by summer day and atmospheric nightfall. We recommend arriving early to make the most of your visit.

You can choose your seats when you book online. This service will be popular, and every seat will be taken, so please don’t expect not to share a table unless you have booked and paid for all four seats. What a perfect time to make new friends over a glass of Presecco!

With your Sunset Scotsman ticket, you can also enjoy travelling on our earlier home-fleet services on the day of your visit for free! Why not make a day of it and visit our museum, locomotive shed, SteamWorks! and the other beautiful period stations on the Bluebell Railway? Warning! There will be no services to East Grinstead Station after the Sunset Scotsman, so start and finish your day at Sheffield Park Station, unless you have booked yourself a taxi home! There is plenty of free parking at Sheffield Park Station.

There will be some space on the wheelchair carriage for wheelchair users and carers. Each party has different needs, so these are custom booked and not available online. Please call the customer services team on 01825 720800 between 10am and 3pm, if you would like to book a space.

Travel on The Flying Scotsman – SOLD OUT

These tickets allow you travel on the Flying Scotsman ‘Express’ Sheffield Park to East Grinstead return service, it also include access to all the other attractions available at Sheffield Park, including SteamWorks!, our interactive learning experience, the museum, the Bulleid Society Shop and of course our licensed restaurant The Bessemer Arms and our gift and model shop.

See The Flying Scotsman Running and Travel on Non Flying Scotsman Trains- AVAILABLE TO BOOK

This option allows you to see the Flying Scotsman ‘running’ through any of the stations on route or at its departure and destination stations as well as travel on any Non Flying Scotsman Trains with an Event All Day Rover Ticket. Also included is access to all the other attractions available at the Bluebell Railway, including SteamWorks!, our interactive learning experience, the museum, the Bulleid Society Shop, the play and picnic area at Kingscote, the Elephant Van play carriage at Horsted Keynes and of course our licensed restaurant The Bessemer Arms and our gift and model shop.

You can find out the very latest for this event and others throughout 2023 at the railway through our Bluebell Railway NewsLetter. Click on the button below to sign up and be the first to get the latest announcements when they are released!

CUSTOMER INFORMATION


Advance tickets – available to purchase until midnight the day before travel.

Discounts – We regret, members tickets and other discounts are not available for this event.

BRPS – Bluebell Railway Preservation Society members enjoy many membership benefits including discounted travel on other services. Visit our Membership page for more information and to join.


Vouchers:

  • Customers with vouchers should book directly with customer services. We regret that we cannot process vouchers when booking online at this time
  • Please contact Customer Service and Sales on 01825 720800 to use your vouchers

Facilities:

  • There are toilets at each of our stations and on some of these services (dependant on carriages on the day)
  • Food and drink is available to purchase at all of our stations

Parking:

  • Sheffield Park Station – free parking at the station. This service begins at ends at this station.
  • Horsted Keynes Station – free parking at the station. You cannot join this service here.
  • Kingscote – NO parking is available at this station
  • East Grinstead – free blue badge parking (5 spaces). Public parking in East Grinstead. Do not join this service here

Tickets:

  • Children under 3yrs (and babies) travel for free and don’t need a ticket, no seat is allocated
  • Tickets are valid for the date and journey specified on the ticket only

Seating: 

  • This service is seated. Please adhere to the coach letter and seat number printed on your ticket. Station staff will assist you to locate your seat.

Accessibility:

  • We are pleased to offer a specially adapted area for wheelchair users on all departures of this service. Please call our Customer Service Team on 01825 720800 to check availability
  • If you or a member of your party have mobility issues and would like to travel on this service, please call our Customer Service Team on 01825 720800 who will be happy to discuss your requirements with you
  • Accessible toilets are available at each station, but we regret we have no “Changing Places” toilets, or accessible toilets on our trains

Dogs:

  • Assistance dogs only. Please do not bring dogs to this event – it is not appropriate due to potential crowded platforms during these days. Dogs left in cars will be reported

Prams/Pushchairs/Buggies:

  • There will be no space for prams/pushchairs/buggies on this service
  • All prams/pushchairs/buggies can be left in the care of the station staff at Sheffield Park Station