British Rail Tours Know which side to sit
Flying Scotsman Main Line Tours
Steam trainNationwide

Flying Scotsman Main Line Tours

Derby, Chesterfield, Coleshill Parkway or York → York, Scarborough, Newcastle, Bristol, Minehead or Didcot
Sit on the right 6 upcoming dates Photos
Photo: ARG_Flickr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • SeasonSeptember to November 2026
  • RunsSelected dates: 16, 19 and 23 September, 14 and 17 October, 13 November 2026
  • DurationSingle legs of 1 to 3 h
  • TractionSteam (LNER A3 60103 Flying Scotsman)
  • OperatorFox & Edwards Events

Single-leg main line trips behind Flying Scotsman in autumn 2026, operated by Vintage Trains and sold by Fox & Edwards from £99.

After a year of heritage line visits and museum residencies, 60103 Flying Scotsman returned to the main line in September 2026. The National Railway Museum's locomotive is maintained by Northern Steam Operations, operated by Vintage Trains and its trips are ticketed by Fox & Edwards Events.

Rather than full-day circuits, the tours are sold as legs so more people can ride: Derby to York and York to Scarborough on 16 September, Birmingham to Bristol and Bristol to Minehead on 19 September, Chesterfield to York and York to Newcastle on 23 September, followed by York to Scarborough and Coleshill Parkway to York in mid October, a Didcot tour on 17 October and Darlington to Stanhope in November.

Fares start at £99 per leg. Seats are in Vintage Trains' Standard, First and Pullman carriages depending on the train.

Which side to sit

Derby, Chesterfield, Coleshill Parkway or York → York, Scarborough, Newcastle, Bristol, Minehead or Didcot

York Minster, Kirkham Priory and the Wolds are on the right; the North York Moors are distant on the left.

Sit on the right1 sights on the left · 3 on the right
  1. 0mi
    StationYork
  2. 1mi
    CathedralYork MinsterSeen across the rooftops leaving York
  3. 13mi
    River · both sidesRiver DerwentThe line follows the river through the Kirkham gorge
  4. 14mi
    AbbeyKirkham PrioryAugustinian priory ruins by the river
  5. 21mi
    StationMalton
  6. 28mi
    MoorlandNorth York MoorsDistant moorland edge across the Vale of Pickering
  7. 30mi
    LandmarkYorkshire WoldsChalk hills along the southern side of the vale
  8. 39mi
    StationSeamer
  9. 42mi
    StationScarborough

Sides are given facing the direction of travel. Miles are approximate from the start of the journey.

Upcoming dates

DateFromTractionStatus
Fri 13 Nov 2026
08:40		 Darlington
Darlington to Stanhope (Weardale Railway) and return.		 60103 Flying Scotsman See operator
Fri 13 Nov 2026
13:40		 Darlington
Darlington to Stanhope (Weardale Railway) and return.		 60103 Flying Scotsman See operator
Sat 14 Nov 2026
08:40		 Darlington
Darlington to Stanhope (Weardale Railway) and return.		 60103 Flying Scotsman See operator
Sat 14 Nov 2026
13:40		 Darlington
Darlington to Stanhope (Weardale Railway) and return.		 60103 Flying Scotsman See operator
Sun 15 Nov 2026
08:40		 Darlington
Darlington to Stanhope (Weardale Railway) and return.		 60103 Flying Scotsman See operator
Sun 15 Nov 2026
13:40		 Darlington
Darlington to Stanhope (Weardale Railway) and return.		 60103 Flying Scotsman See operator

On board

  • First Class

Highlights

  • Britain's most famous locomotive
  • Short legs from £99
  • York, Scarborough and the East Coast Main Line
  • West Somerset line to Minehead

Classes of travel

StandardFirst ClassPullman

Photos of the Flying Scotsman Main Line Tours

3 photos · tap to enlarge
60103 Flying Scotsman at Finningley level crossing near Doncaster
60103 Flying Scotsman at Finningley level crossing near Doncaster
60103 Flying Scotsman outside the National Railway Museum, York
60103 Flying Scotsman outside the National Railway Museum, York
Flying Scotsman working between York and Scarborough
Flying Scotsman working between York and Scarborough
Before you book: charter trains depend on locomotive availability and Network Rail engineering work. Steam can be swapped for diesel at short notice, so check the operator’s terms for what happens then. When you book, ask for a seat on the side we recommend: most operators allocate seats but will note a preference.

Frequently asked questions

Who runs Flying Scotsman now?

It is owned by the National Railway Museum, maintained by Northern Steam Operations and operated on the main line by Vintage Trains in 2026.

Can I ride a full day?

Legs can be combined where they connect, for example Derby to York then York to Scarborough.

Are there 2027 dates?

The museum announces each year's tour early in the year; check railwaymuseum.org.uk and Fox & Edwards.

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