Flying Scotsman and the Best Birthday Ever

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The Flying Scotsman and the Best Birthday Ever is a book I know my nan and grandad would have gifted to me as a child. The cover is a beautiful, matt watercolour image that instantly draws you in. As an adult you can feel the nostalgia bursting out and children will be filled with wonder at the the image of the train speeding out of the tunnel. From 1st July 2021, VAT will be applicable to those EU countries where VAT is applied to books - this additional charge will be collected by Fed Ex (or the Royal Mail) at the time of delivery. Shipments to the USA & Canada: I have been fascinated with this icon of steam since the late 1960s when, one evening, I stood on Wellingborough Station and saw the true magnificence of the locomotive. Resplendent in its LNER apple green livery, I was simply captivated by the amazing spectacle, and that memory has stayed with me ever since.

Dedicated lovers of the locomotive are invited to help shape the centenary celebration of the exhibition, called Flying Scotsman: 100 Years, 100 Voices. The museum is asking members of the public to get in touch to help define the exhibition and to share their memories of Flying Scotsman – whether through personal records, letters, photographs, or film clips. Read More Related Articles Behind closed doors in a Lancashire workshop, the world’s most famous steam locomotive, Flying Scotsman, is being prepared for its centenary celebrations next year. Since May 2022, the celebrity engine has been undergoing a thorough mechanical overhaul to ensure it is ready to lead a national programme of events in 2023.A Financial Times Book of the Year 2022 An inspiring tale from Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman celebrating the world’s most iconic train, Flying Scotsman, and its greatest fan, a young girl named Iris. Iris knows everything there is to know about Flying Scotsman. Her dad is the famous train’s driver, and every year her favourite birthday treat is a trip to see him at work. But each time Flying Scotsman pulls away, Iris wishes more than anything that she could be in the driver’s cab, just like her dad. Then again, who’s to stop her… Published in association with the National Railway Museum, York, Flying Scotsman and the Best Birthday Ever takes readers on a journey through the golden age of steam travel, paying tribute to the women who kept the railways running during the Second World War. With family at its heart, the story is warmly written and joyously illustrated by national treasures Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman. About This Edition ISBN: The trip will start from Bristol Temple Meads before calling in at Yatton and Taunton before visiting Exeter, Plymouth and Par. The route includes travelling along the internationally famous sea wall at Dawlish, crossing Brunel’s famous Saltash Bridge into Cornwall and some of the most varied and exciting scenery in the country.

The locomotive went on to operate in service until 1963 and later in preservation, which included tours of the USA, Canada and Australia, where it captured the hearts of millions. In 2004, a campaign spearheaded by the National Railway Museum to save the locomotive for the nation amassed the support of thousands, confirming its status as a national treasure. Further details of the centenary plans will be revealed later in the year, but will involve the publication of Flying Scotsman and the Best Birthday Ever (Thames & Hudson) – a new book by one of the UK’s best-loved authors and storytellers, Michael Morpurgo, and illustrated by the internationally renowned children’s book illustrator and author Michael Foreman – in October 2022, and the chance to see Flying Scotsman at several locations across the country, beginning with Swanage Railway in Dorset this October and at the National Railway Museum in York and Locomotion in Shildon in 2023. After some vital restoration work the Scotsman will begin its journey in the South of England before heading to the National Railway Museum in York as part of a new exhibition announced by the museum. See the full collection of original watercolours created for the beautiful new Flying Scotsman book, illustrated by Michael Foreman and written by Michael Morpurgo. Today marks the 100th anniversary of perhaps the most famous British steam locomotive in the world, Flying Scotsman, commencing its service for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) in 1923.

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Last month - February 24 - marked 100 years since the Flying Scotsman set off on its first journey from the sheds at Doncaster Works. Now a national treasure, Flying Scotsman is a star attraction in the collection of the National Railway Museum - part of the Science Museum Group - in York, where it is a working museum exhibit.

Published in association with the National Railway Museum, York, Flying Scotsman and the Best Birthday Ever takes readers on a journey through the golden age of steam travel, paying tribute to the women who kept the railways running during the Second World War. With family at its heart, the story is warmly written and joyously illustrated by national treasures Michael Morpurgo and Michael Foreman. This exhibition is a partnership between the National Railway Museum, Thames & Hudson, and Doncaster Council to celebrate the centenary of Flying Scotsman. Plan your visit Our cheeky train enthusiast protagonist hops aboard the Flying Scotsman as it travels from London to Edinburgh, breaking the speed record for steam locomotives on its way! But will Iris ever achieve her dream of riding in the driver’s cab of the greatest train in the world, like her dad?

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Charlotte Kingston, the head of interpretation and design at the National Railway Museum, said: “Often described as ‘the people’s engine’, we want to hear what Flying Scotsman means to you, whether it’s through working on the railways, seeing Scotsman as a child or another cherished memory. We hope that Flying Scotsman: 100 Years, 100 Voices will help create a lasting and important chapter in the Flying Scotsman story.” Touted as an icon of speed and style, during its time under LNER Flying Scotsman was used to market the first non-stop run from London to Edinburgh on ‘The Flying Scotsman’ route in 1928, advertising it as ‘The Most Famous Train in the World’. And in 1934, when it achieved an authenticated speed of 100mph, they made sure this achievement was covered in the national press. Sophie Vohra highlights the significance of Flying Scotsman's 100th birthday and shares details of our Centenary Programme.