1 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:08,120 For Victorian Britons, George Bradshaw was a household name. 2 00:00:08,120 --> 00:00:10,560 At a time when railways were new, 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,760 Bradshaw's guidebook inspired them to take to the tracks. 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:16,160 I'm using a Bradshaw's guide 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:21,000 to understand how trains transformed Britain, 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:25,720 its landscape, its industry, society and leisure time. 7 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:30,200 As I crisscross the country, 150 years later, 8 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,840 it helps me to discover the Britain of today. 9 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:06,840 London. 10 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,200 Kings Cross Station. 11 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,120 Predawn. 12 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:17,960 I'm here for a great British railway journey like no other. 13 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:35,200 Television cameras, paparazzi, flashbulbs - 14 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:39,320 the world's media assembled, not for a rock idol, 15 00:01:39,320 --> 00:01:41,080 not for a film star, 16 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,040 but for royalty. 17 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,640 The royalty of railway engineering. 18 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:54,680 I'm going to board a train 19 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:59,200 whose name conjures the excitement and romance of steam travel. 20 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:03,760 The Flying Scotsman. 21 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,000 After a painstaking 10-year restoration 22 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,040 overseen by the National Railway Museum in York, 23 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:18,720 and paid for by public and private donations of more than £4 million, 24 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:22,880 this world-famous locomotive is ready to roll again. 25 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:28,680 Joining me for its inaugural journey is the museum's senior curator, 26 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:30,760 Anthony Coulls. 27 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:32,720 Anthony, when is there first 28 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,800 a rail service from King's Cross to Scotland? 29 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,960 It starts in 1862, London to Edinburgh is the great challenge, 30 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:40,680 to get there as fast as possible. 31 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:44,240 The London North Western Railway from Euston are running at 40mph 32 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,080 up to Carlisle and Glasgow - must have been absolutely turgid. 33 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:48,640 So the Great Northern Railway say, 34 00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:50,560 "Let's see what we can do, let's go faster. 35 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:53,000 "We'll knock spots off their service." 36 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,800 It wasn't known as The Flying Scotsman particularly at that time. 37 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,720 It had all sorts of names, the Great Scotch Express, The Flying Scot, 38 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:05,360 but the appellation Flying Scotsman came out of that around 1880s. 39 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,160 So, when the service begins from King's Cross, 40 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:12,400 that inaugurates a period of faster travel between London and Scotland. 41 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:16,440 It does, yes. There was a 45 minute lunch stop at York 42 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,680 from the ten o'clock Flying Scotsman service from King's Cross. 43 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:21,680 As they try to make the service quicker, 44 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:23,920 the lunch stop gets put down to 20 minutes, 45 00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:27,040 and you could imagine the absolute chaos that there was there. 46 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,520 No dining car? No, exactly. 47 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:32,720 No toilets either. You had to have a comfort break at Newcastle. 48 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,920 So, from some time in the 19th century, 49 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:38,240 there's a service that people are calling The Flying Scotsman, 50 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:41,760 but Flying Scotsman the locomotive, that comes about in the 1920s. 51 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:43,160 It does, 1923, 52 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,120 the London North Eastern Railway introduced this new locomotive, 53 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:47,800 the A1 Pacific. 54 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,040 It was only natural that the LNER 55 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,680 would want to name their new locomotive 56 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:57,840 after their most prestigious service so it bore the name Flying Scotsman. 57 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,360 Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, 58 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:03,600 one of Britain's most famous railway engineers, 59 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:07,960 the 96 tonne locomotive, built at the company's Doncaster works 60 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,720 was a record breaker. 61 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:14,680 In May 1928, it completed the first nonstop service 62 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,000 from King's Cross to Edinburgh. 63 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,000 And, in 1934, 64 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:24,560 Flying Scotsman became the first steam engine to record 100mph. 65 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:31,400 Like me, my fellow fans here on the concourse are eagerly awaiting 66 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:35,920 the first glimpse of this superb piece of engineering. 67 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,240 Are you passengers on The Flying Scotsman today? 68 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:40,040 We are, yes. 69 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:41,720 Ahhh, fare paying passengers? 70 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,800 Yes. Indeed. What have you paid? 71 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,120 £450 each. 72 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:48,080 That is a lot of money! 73 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,920 It's the once-in-a-lifetime journey. We'll never see this again. 74 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:56,440 You don't have any memory of steam engines on rail services, do you? 75 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:59,400 A little. A little?! 76 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,960 And, I mean, is it the nostalgia? 77 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,600 Is it because you want to relive what happened in your youth? 78 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,200 It is, it is nostalgia. 79 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:08,520 It's remembering going to see my grandma. 80 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:10,680 And John's a bit of a steam nut. 81 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:12,960 The Flying Scotsman, I used to see when I was a child. 82 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:15,440 You used to go chasing the Flying Scotsman 83 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:19,000 when you knew it was coming through, and it was an amazing thing to see. 84 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,880 It's just one of those fantastic trains with all the history. 85 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,400 What will you feel when the train comes in, do you think? 86 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:29,000 I'm shaking already because I can just feel the family history. 87 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:35,800 My grandfather was head chef to King George V on the Flying Scotsman. 88 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:37,480 That is extraordinary. 89 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:42,120 I remember my mother said that the Queen said, 90 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,680 "Aren't the peas nice?" 91 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,560 I hope you have a very stirring day. 92 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:49,920 Yes. I think we all will. I will, I will. 93 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:55,160 As the anticipation builds, I'm in the spotlight, too. 94 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,200 Today we can recall a bit of great British history. 95 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:01,760 Have you been on the locomotive before? 96 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,800 I have not. I'm a Flying Scotsman virgin. 97 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:06,960 This is going to be the most exciting day. 98 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,920 I mean, I just can't wait even for it to enter the station. 99 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:12,560 Thank you very much. Thank you. 100 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:14,920 Swap your Bradshaw's with my Bradshaw's. Thank you. 101 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,720 Are you going on the train? Yes. That's fantastic. 102 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,880 Have a wonderful time. Thank you. 103 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:25,080 The word has got out that the train is due, 104 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:28,600 and the Flying Scotsman is going to reverse into the platform. 105 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:32,520 That's been enough to send everyone scurrying to this end 106 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:37,080 to capture the moment when the iconic locomotive arrives. 107 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:49,960 What a beautiful sight. 108 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,920 In its gorgeous dark green livery, 109 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:56,040 the Flying Scotsman has arrived. 110 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:06,560 I'm now going to touch engineering brilliance. 111 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:18,680 Around 300 of us in 11 vintage carriages 112 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:22,760 are going to be hauled from King's Cross to York by Flying Scotsman. 113 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:26,920 I'm keen to meet the crew. 114 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:31,560 What are you doing today? I'm the traction inspector today. 115 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:33,560 This is absolutely amazing. 116 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:36,720 You're all mobbed here as though you were film stars and celebrities. 117 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:39,480 What does it feel like? It's an honour, really, and a privilege. 118 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:42,240 It's been away for a long time, but it's not been forgotten. 119 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:43,560 So it's great. 120 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,400 Oh, it's the old famous Bradshaw. This is my famous Bradshaw! 121 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,640 This is your famous Flying Scotsman. 122 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,680 It certainly is, yeah. You must feel wonderful today. 123 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:55,520 I've been very honoured, yeah. 124 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:57,320 Very lucky. How is the engine today? 125 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:59,600 Yeah, fine. Everything is working well, yeah, great. 126 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:03,040 Think we'll make it? Of course we will. Yeah, yes, we'll make it. 127 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:06,080 Done it many times before, hasn't she? So... 128 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:09,840 Finally aboard. 129 00:08:15,520 --> 00:08:18,800 Coming into the carriage is like stepping into history. 130 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,400 This lovely upholstery, 131 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,280 the antimacassars, 132 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:24,760 the napkins, 133 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,600 the tablecloths, 134 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,280 the crockery. 135 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:30,760 The elegance of old travel. 136 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:55,400 I must have left King's Cross station a thousand times, 137 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,000 but never with these crowds, 138 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,240 never with this style. 139 00:09:15,560 --> 00:09:17,920 Good morning, can I offer you today's menu, sir? 140 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:20,400 Thank you. It's all been so beautifully done, hasn't it? 141 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:24,920 Porridge, grapefruit, bread basket, 142 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:28,880 smoked back bacon, free-range egg. 143 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,240 The whole thing is here, isn't it? Indeed it is, sir, 144 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,720 and you have to leave room for lunch when you get to York! 145 00:09:40,560 --> 00:09:44,560 The glamour and sophistication of the nonstop service 146 00:09:44,560 --> 00:09:48,640 between London and Edinburgh, as well as its speed, made it famous. 147 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:57,520 In its 1930s heyday, 148 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:02,360 passengers could dine in a luxury Louis XVI style restaurant. 149 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,360 Sip cocktails in the elegant bar. 150 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:10,160 And have their hair coiffured in the train's salon. 151 00:10:11,560 --> 00:10:14,320 George Bradshaw would surely have been amazed 152 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,640 by how luxurious steam travel would become after his death. 153 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:25,560 To ride the flying Scotsman as it raced along the East Coast mainline 154 00:10:25,560 --> 00:10:28,920 must have been thrilling for both passengers and crew. 155 00:10:28,920 --> 00:10:32,640 I want to hear first-hand from some of the people who were lucky 156 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:34,600 enough to experience it. 157 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,360 Ron, how many years were you on the railway? 158 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,960 50 and a half. And what age are you today, may I ask? 159 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:42,120 I'm 83. 160 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:44,720 I started in 1947. 161 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:46,480 I was an engine cleaner 162 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:50,800 until I was 16, a year later, I went out as a fireman, 163 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:53,640 and then in '58, I become a driver. 164 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:57,320 Was it very hard work? Oh, definitely hard work. 165 00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,720 On a run to Newcastle 166 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,360 you would shovel between six to eight tonne of coal, 167 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,160 and use 55,000 gallons of water. 168 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:10,000 And when you was a driver, it was a hard work concentrating, 169 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,440 watching the signals, knowing the road, inclines. 170 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:17,320 If you had a good fireman you always had plenty of steam available 171 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:18,880 for doing it. 172 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:21,720 Lots of drivers used to see them sparking. 173 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:26,200 That was seeing the ashes coming out the chimney top red-hot. 174 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:30,280 If one of them landed on you, you used to yell. 175 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,280 And, pleased to be on the train today? 176 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,320 Oh, yes. Never thought it would happen. 177 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,600 Some of my friends will be very jealous. 178 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:39,920 This engine belongs to the public 179 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:43,760 because they put their coppers in it to have it all rebuilt. 180 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:46,440 It's a wonderful achievement and it got it going. 181 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:49,640 And we should be very proud in this country 182 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:53,280 because we was the birth nation of fast steam engines, 183 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:56,240 and our workmanship is beyond belief. 184 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:02,600 Hello. What's your connection with Flying Scotsman? 185 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:07,720 Well, I was the shed master at King's Cross from 1956 to 1961, 186 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:11,760 and the Flying Scotsman was one of my locomotives. 187 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:13,960 It had just over 1,000 staff, 188 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,800 and we turned round the engines that came in from the north 189 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:19,600 and sent them back again. 190 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:21,560 And we turned our own out every day. 191 00:12:21,560 --> 00:12:26,160 We had to clean them, service them, coal and water, and everything. 192 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,440 Everything to do with steam locomotives. 193 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:30,280 Flying Scotsman was very well-known. 194 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,440 It was very well-known. 195 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:37,480 It was the first specific build after the formation of the LNER. 196 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:41,040 And it proved the reliability of these locomotives 197 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:45,280 when it started running the nonstop in 1928. 198 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:51,360 Previously, steam engines had had to stop to change crews. 199 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:55,160 But, keen to create the fastest possible journey time, 200 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:57,600 Sir Nigel Gresley built a corridor 201 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:02,200 just five feet high and 18 inches wide through the tender, 202 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:04,960 where coal and water were stored, to the locomotive. 203 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:08,960 A relief crew could squeeze through on the move 204 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:10,760 between the capital cities. 205 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:17,160 There is an apocryphal story that he arranged in his lounge 206 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,360 two rows of chairs to get the spacing right 207 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:22,120 for the corridor tender, 208 00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:27,400 which was used every day on through workings to Edinburgh. 209 00:13:30,640 --> 00:13:34,760 Innovative ideas such as that helped to make Flying Scotsman 210 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:37,560 the United Kingdom's most famous steam engine. 211 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,600 And it still pulls crowds today. 212 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:47,320 With our delicious breakfast served, 213 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,600 the train has made an unscheduled stop. 214 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,800 And the reason is perfectly clear. 215 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,880 There are people trespassing on the line. 216 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,920 They're so overcome by the need to photograph 217 00:13:59,920 --> 00:14:02,560 and look at this wonderful locomotive 218 00:14:02,560 --> 00:14:06,880 that they've forgotten all the basic rules of common sense and safety. 219 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,200 So I think not just our train, but all the trains on the line, 220 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:14,320 have been called to a halt until we get the people away from the track. 221 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:21,880 Now that the steam enthusiasts have retreated to a safe distance, 222 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:23,560 we're on our way again. 223 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:30,600 Since today's Virgin East Coast services to Edinburgh 224 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,000 are scheduled at just four and a half hours, 225 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:37,400 you have to imagine how astonishing was the speed of Flying Scotsman 226 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:38,520 in its day. 227 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:43,080 In the 1840s, 228 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:47,320 the journey on the West Coast route had taken 12 and a half hours. 229 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,520 But, by 1934, 230 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:53,520 Flying Scotsman travelled between the two capitals in just over seven. 231 00:14:55,320 --> 00:15:00,880 Every second counted, and this legendary service was loath to stop. 232 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:05,600 But train manager Robert Tibbets has to bring her to a halt today. 233 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:09,920 Rob, it occurs to me that people under the age of 50 234 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,640 may not even know why we've made the stop. What's the reason? 235 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:14,280 The reason we've stopped here 236 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:17,840 is so that Flying Scotsman's tender can be filled with water. 237 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:19,520 In the days gone by, 238 00:15:19,520 --> 00:15:23,080 water columns would be situated at the end of platforms 239 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:24,560 all over the country. 240 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:27,920 But there was a system where you could pick up the water 241 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,760 by having a scoop dropped from the tender into water troughs, 242 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,800 which were situated between the rails and the railway. 243 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:38,240 So the train could be picking up water on the move, 244 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:42,200 which is how it enabled them to run nonstop trains with steam 245 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,240 between London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley. 246 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,320 Extraordinary. How are we taking in water today? 247 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,600 Well, these days we have to get water either from our hydrants, 248 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:53,520 but in the case as it is today, 249 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:56,520 from a tanker which comes and pumps water in. 250 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,400 Any idea how much water the engine will take on? 251 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:02,480 I would think at this stage they'll be looking at something like 252 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,800 2,500 to 3,000 gallons to go into the tender. 253 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:24,320 From the 1950s, British Railways was keen to modernise, 254 00:16:24,320 --> 00:16:27,280 and diesel and electricity were the future. 255 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:38,480 In 1963, after 40 years of service and more than two million miles, 256 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:41,520 Flying Scotsman was retired. 257 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,160 But its astonishing story continued. 258 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:48,920 Rumours circulated that it would be scrapped. 259 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:53,320 When a campaign to Save Our Scotsman failed to raise sufficient funds, 260 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:58,440 steam enthusiast Alan Pegler, then on the board of British Railways, 261 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:00,440 bought it for £3,000. 262 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:05,120 'All dressed up for the part, the proud man from Nottinghamshire, 263 00:17:05,120 --> 00:17:08,040 'Alan Pegler, was with the engine he saved from the break-up yard. 264 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:10,880 'Flying Scotsman has years of work in her still. 265 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:14,920 'But progress in the shape of diesel locomotives has pushed her aside.' 266 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:17,200 Having overseen its restoration 267 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:20,320 at the Doncaster works where it had been created, 268 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:25,040 Pegler wanted to show off the famous engine beyond Britain's shores. 269 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:28,840 In 1969, backed by Prime Minister Harold Wilson, 270 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,560 he planned a trade mission by British companies 271 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:36,360 to the United States, with Flying Scotsman as the star of the show. 272 00:17:36,360 --> 00:17:39,280 'The world's most famous railway engine was off to America 273 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:40,880 'on a trade-boosting mission. 274 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:45,360 'On the other side, the engine will follow a 2200-mile route, 275 00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:47,600 'showing the people of the United States 276 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:49,520 'carriage-loads of British goods. 277 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:52,760 'The Scot is expected to attract millions of visitors. 278 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:55,320 'Who said the age of steam was dead?' 279 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:58,800 Supported by big names like BP and Pretty Polly, 280 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:04,360 and, with a traditional British pub on board, it crossed 17 states, 281 00:18:04,360 --> 00:18:06,160 attracting huge crowds. 282 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:09,440 Davina Pike and Tanya Hopkinson were there. 283 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:11,000 You're Tanya, aren't you? 284 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,080 Yes, how do you do. Davina? Davina, yes. 285 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:18,280 Why was Flying Scotsman accompanied by lovely ladies like you? 286 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:20,760 I think because it was a trade promotion tour, 287 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,800 they wanted to show everything that was great about Great Britain, 288 00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,760 and they wanted to have some fun and they wanted to have some 289 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:28,840 light-heartedness to go with it. 290 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:32,160 We had little miniskirts, little kilts like that. 291 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:33,640 You can see they were very short. 292 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,280 And we had white boots, 293 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:39,000 and then we had either a frilly white shirt or we had a red jumper, 294 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,080 and we had little Tam o'Shanter hats. 295 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:43,720 Of course, this was the swinging '60s, 296 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,520 and Britain was the heart of the swinging '60s. 297 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:48,120 What was your role, Davina? 298 00:18:48,120 --> 00:18:51,280 I was Executive Secretary to Alan Pegler. 299 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:54,680 I coordinated between all the people on board, 300 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:56,920 like the Royal Shakespeare Company, 301 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:58,800 Cutty Sark Whisky, 302 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:00,920 Cunard, who had shipped the engine, 303 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,920 and it was just generally helping Alan with the promotion. 304 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:07,640 What was the American reaction to the locomotive? 305 00:19:07,640 --> 00:19:09,960 Absolutely fantastic. 306 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,360 What I do remember is loads of people all over the bridges, 307 00:19:13,360 --> 00:19:15,960 and to see all of the cars just suddenly, 308 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,920 all the brake lights would go on and they would look over, 309 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:22,840 you could almost see them saying, "What the heck is that?", you know. 310 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:24,800 This was over 40 years ago, we did this, 311 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:29,200 and it was such an experience for young girls in 1969, 312 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,320 and the people we met, you know, 313 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:35,080 John Churchill, Winston Churchill's nephew, was on board. 314 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:36,600 So many exciting people. 315 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:40,280 It just, honestly, it brings a lump to your throat, 316 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:42,240 you almost feel like crying. 317 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:43,920 Tanya, just one question. 318 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,360 Why haven't you worn your tartan miniskirt?! 319 00:19:46,360 --> 00:19:49,640 Because I'm a little bit bigger now than I was then! 320 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:51,320 And it was a bit short. 321 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:53,600 I don't think I'll get away with it. 322 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:55,400 I wish! 323 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,880 Despite the fun and success of the first mission, 324 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:03,480 a second planned for the following year, 325 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,960 without the support of big companies or the Government, 326 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:07,080 lost money. 327 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:08,640 In 1971, 328 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:12,560 Alan Pegler had to leave his beloved steam engine in the United States, 329 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,800 and return home to file for bankruptcy. 330 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:19,680 But all was not lost. 331 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:21,880 Hearing of Flying Scotsman's fate, 332 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:26,520 businessman and steam railway fanatic Sir William McAlpine 333 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:28,080 came to the rescue. 334 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:32,800 Bill, at one time you owned Flying Scotsman. How did that come about? 335 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:34,480 We heard that she was in trouble, 336 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,840 and some of us were getting together to organise a rescue bid. 337 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:41,800 Alan Pegler had gone bankrupt, she was marooned in San Francisco. 338 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:43,680 And knowing everybody loved her, 339 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,160 and she was so much of a British icon, we got her back. 340 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:48,960 You bought the locomotive with your own money? 341 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:52,440 Yes, I fortunately had some at the time! 342 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:56,280 Is it a matter of public record how much you paid? 343 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:59,520 I think it was about £25,000. 344 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:03,360 The dollar exchange was pretty good in those days. 345 00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:05,880 And soon she was on her travels again. 346 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:11,080 This time in Australia, as part of the 1988 Bicentennial celebrations. 347 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:14,520 I said at the time, you know, as long as I have a return ticket, 348 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,520 paid for before she leaves, you can have her. 349 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:19,080 And so she went over, 350 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:23,040 and she went up to Alice Springs, Sydney to Perth, 351 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:25,240 and she was very popular over there. 352 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,240 How did it feel to be the owner of Flying Scotsman? 353 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:29,760 It felt very odd. 354 00:21:29,760 --> 00:21:33,320 I remember sitting and thinking, I own this locomotive, 355 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:34,880 but it doesn't feel like it. 356 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,600 I mean, I really bought her for the people who loved her. 357 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,960 And I felt that I didn't really own it, she belonged to the nation. 358 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:45,920 I was in the right place at the right time with this amount of cash. 359 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:47,680 You've owned a lot of locomotives, 360 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,080 what's special about Flying Scotsman? 361 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:51,800 Well, I mean, she is the best. 362 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:54,160 I can't find anybody who will argue 363 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:57,480 that she is not the most famous locomotive in the world. 364 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:00,320 So, you know, how can you beat that? 365 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:05,000 Returning to Britain in 1990, 366 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:09,320 Flying Scotsman was owned by a succession of wealthy individuals 367 00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:11,520 before public and private donations 368 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:14,160 allowed the National Railway Museum in York 369 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:16,960 to buy it for the nation in 2004. 370 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:23,560 Now, today's remarkable 200-mile journey is coming to an end. 371 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:30,560 Since we left London, every station, level crossing and bridge 372 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:33,720 has been crowded with people, young and old. 373 00:22:33,720 --> 00:22:37,400 It seems as though half the population of England has turned up 374 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:38,920 to cheer on Flying Scotsman. 375 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:42,040 And, if that's so, the other half of the population of England 376 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:45,800 is gathered here at York Station to see the arrival. 377 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:47,120 Look at that! 378 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:03,880 Well, the enthusiasm, the mania, the madness continues. 379 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:07,520 People are pressing to get towards the locomotive. 380 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,920 I think they want to touch it, they want to put a hand on it. 381 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:14,240 And we're, what, about 20, 25 persons deep, 382 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:17,080 just trying to get near Flying Scotsman. 383 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,280 Hello. How did the locomotive perform? 384 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:24,200 Very well, thank you. Yes. 385 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:26,920 I think the engine knew it was on the East Coast Mainline again 386 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:29,160 and it went for it, it did very well. 387 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,120 Do you ever see anything like the crowds we've encountered today? 388 00:23:32,120 --> 00:23:35,800 No, I've never seen anything like this before, for a steam engine. 389 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:38,680 It's quite amazing, to see how many people have turned out. 390 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:41,680 Well, thank you, we had a really memorable ride. 391 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:45,520 And so another emotional moment, 392 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:48,160 as Flying Scotsman returns to her home 393 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:51,080 at the National Railway Museum in York. 394 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,560 Today's memorable journey is a celebration 395 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:57,840 for Flying Scotsman's passengers and devotees. 396 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:02,680 And, for the skilled engineers at specialist locomotive company 397 00:24:02,680 --> 00:24:06,720 Riley and Son, who have spent the last decade restoring it 398 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:08,560 to prime performance. 399 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:11,520 Director Colin Green headed the team. 400 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:14,480 Colin, ten years rebuilding Flying Scotsman. 401 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:16,000 It's been quite a big job, then? 402 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:17,840 Yes, it was a major challenge. 403 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:21,680 We looked at the boiler, and decided that it was beyond economic repair. 404 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:24,480 And then we found there was major problems down on the chassis, 405 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:27,200 which involved having to cut off the front-end of the engine, 406 00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:28,680 graft a new piece on it - 407 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:32,320 it's almost major heart surgery, in layman's terms. 408 00:24:32,320 --> 00:24:35,160 So how much of this is the original locomotive? 409 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,840 The tender pretty well is complete and original. 410 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:41,600 On the actual engine side, there's quite a lot that we have renewed. 411 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:45,720 Copper pipework, all the electrical wiring's all brand-new installation. 412 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:47,720 All the boiler fittings have been refurbished. 413 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,280 What do you and your team feel like today, having seen it on the tracks? 414 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:54,320 Oh, it's a massive honour, it's a massive privilege 415 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:57,000 to have been in charge of this team of guys 416 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:58,920 that are absolutely dedicated. 417 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:00,600 You know, there's been ups and downs. 418 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:03,120 We've found things wrong, we've had to start again. 419 00:25:03,120 --> 00:25:07,640 It's just absolutely fantastic now to experience this, see the crowds, 420 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:11,040 you know, see the engine, where it needs to be, back in the limelight. 421 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:14,920 So if someone comes to you tomorrow, Colin, and says, you and your team, 422 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,200 you can do another locomotive now, there'll be another locomotive, 423 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:21,280 but it is going to take you ten years - do you accept or refuse? 424 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,720 You've got to accept, haven't you? You've got to accept. 425 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:26,800 It's been an emotional roller-coaster, 426 00:25:26,800 --> 00:25:28,880 but I think it'll be worth it. 427 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:31,600 She's done us proud. Congratulations. Thank you. 428 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:51,320 At last, the moment to go on board. 429 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,880 Matt? Hi. I'm Michael. Hi, Michael. 430 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:00,640 Nice to meet you. How do you do? 431 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:02,880 So, what has your role been on Flying Scotsman? 432 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:04,880 Once the engine was nearing completion, 433 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:06,320 we started testing the engine. 434 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:09,720 We was on the footplate, trialling it, seeing what it was like, 435 00:26:09,720 --> 00:26:11,400 seeing if there were any faults. 436 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:13,360 What's it like to drive this engine? 437 00:26:13,360 --> 00:26:15,080 Quite responsive. 438 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:17,960 You realise there's a lot of power that you have in your hands. 439 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:19,440 You get a good feel for it, 440 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:22,800 you feel what the engine wants to do just through driving it yourself. 441 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,560 Can you give me a bit of a tour of the controls? 442 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:27,800 Yes, no problem. We'll start with this here. 443 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:29,520 This is like your gears in your car. 444 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:32,000 And then after that, this is your regulator, 445 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:33,600 which is like your car throttle. 446 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,600 That's what makes it go. Then you've got your brake valves. 447 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:38,800 We've got two separate ones on this engine. 448 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:40,920 Also we have what's called the blower. 449 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:44,360 That puts an artificial draught in the firebox. 450 00:26:44,360 --> 00:26:46,240 It gives it a draw on the fire. 451 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:48,200 A speedometer. 452 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:52,200 Then we've got how much steam you're actually putting into the cylinders. 453 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:55,200 And then we've got three different brake gauges here. 454 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:58,840 One part of the locomotive that even I can normally make work 455 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:01,240 is the whistle. Do you want to give it a pull? Here goes! 456 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:02,920 SHORT WHISTLE BLASTS 457 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:06,200 Good noise. It's all right, isn't it? 458 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:08,680 The engine has made the journey from London today. 459 00:27:08,680 --> 00:27:10,760 How do you feel? Very proud. It's great to see. 460 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:13,440 I mean, the engine's performed magnificently. 461 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,280 It's great to see it here. Fantastic day. 462 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:23,960 Was this an exercise in national nostalgia? 463 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:25,720 Yes, in part it was. 464 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:30,920 A commemoration of the days when British engineering ruled supreme. 465 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:33,920 But the fact that, over the last ten years, 466 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:39,640 a dedicated group of people has put Flying Scotsman back in steam, 467 00:27:39,640 --> 00:27:45,560 and back on the tracks, demonstrates that British ingenuity and skill 468 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:48,280 also exist in the present. 469 00:27:52,360 --> 00:27:54,640 Next time, I work up a sweat. 470 00:27:54,640 --> 00:27:56,960 Oh, joy! 471 00:27:56,960 --> 00:28:02,160 Chuck the exercise bike, get a pump trolley and a mile of track. 472 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:07,200 Discover the archive of one of our best-known Victorian writers. 473 00:28:07,200 --> 00:28:12,680 These were sold on the Indian book-seller stalls in the railways 474 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:15,080 for one rupee. 475 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,960 And, get steamed up in a vintage car. 476 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:20,400 Apply the throttle, and we're off!