World Famous Steam Loco Flying Scotsman at Guildford en-route to Watercress Line

Published on: 7 Mar, 2026
Updated on: 9 Mar, 2026

Considered to the the world’s most famous steam locomotive, Flying Scotsman, passed through Guildford today (Saturday, March 7) en-route to its visit on the heritage Mid-Hants Railway’s Watercress Line.

Wherever steam locomotive A3 pacific, number 60103, Flying Scotsman goes it draws a crowd. People gathered at Guildford railway station on Saturday, March 7 to see it as it paused here for a short time on its journey from Tysley in Birmingham to the Watercress Line in Hampshire. Picture: Ben Darnton.

The A3 pacific loco, number 60103, came from the Tysley Steam Trust’s base in Birmingham, via Oxford and Reading.

From Guildford, it went to Alton via Aldershot and Farnham.

Billed as The Flying Scotsman Experiences, the event at which it will be running at on the Alton to Alresford Watercress Line, is on selected dates from March 10 to 21.

Click here for details.

Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 by the London & North Eastern Railway and named after the London to Edinburgh express service it was built for.

In 1934, it was the first locomotive to officially reach 100mph. It was withdrawn from service by British Railways in 1963 after 40 years of service.

After having had a number of private owners, in 2004 Flying Scotsman was purchased by the National Railway Museum and restored to working order costing £4.2 million.

Since the restoration, the locomotive has run special trains on both the main line and on heritage railways.

Its previous visit to the Watercress Line was in 2020.