A3 locomotive “Flying Scotsman” 60103 hauls freight again in over 30 years.
On Friday 28th February 2025 for the first time in over 30 years Flying Scotsman hauled a freight train again. Flying Scotsman last hauled freight on The Nene Valley Railway in 1994, and The Nene Valley Railway Wagon Group put together a special photography charter called “The Scotch Goods” which would see Flying Scotsman hauling freight up and down Nene Valley line, recreating a period from 1962 of a service from London King’s Cross to Scotland.
We were blessed with the weather as it was perfect conditions to be out photographing Flying Scotsman. The event started at Wansford station with a safety briefing and briefing everyone on what would be happening throughout the day.
The first location was Peterborough station. Flying Scotsman had travelled ahead of us so it could position it’s self-ready for us arriving. We would be following and travelling the line in the Pacer train.
Flying Scotsman - Peterborough Station NVR
After Peterborough we boarded the Pacer and headed back down the line to Orton Mere. Once off the train we walked down the line to Longueville Junction where Flying Scotsman would do a few passes. This location also gave us the opportunity to capture Flying Scotsman on a section of double track.
Flying Scotsman - Longueville Junction
It was back on the Pacer and this time we travelled back down the line to an area known as Castor Straight. This gave us a lovely opportunity to capture Flying Scotsman in glorious sunshine and steam.
Flying Scotsman - Castor Straight.
Next stop was back at Wansford where there was a short break before an opportunity to capture Flying Scotsman travelling over the River Nene bridge heading into Wansford Station.
Flying Scotsman - River Nene Bridge
The final location of the day was the most popular location on the line. This location was Wansford tunnel. We travelled down to Yarwell station on the Pacer and then walked back up the line to the tunnel entrance.
Before heading back to the platform and boarding the Pacer to head back to Wansford, we had a couple of more opportunities to capture Flying Scotsman emerging from the tunnel from a different angle and also on a section of double track.
Flying Scotsman - Wansford Tunnel
Flying Scotsman - Yarwell
I would like to thank the Wagon Group at the Nene Valley Railway for hosting this event and for the opportunity to capture Flying Scotsman hauling freight.
Below is a video from the day. Please consider liking, commenting and subscribing to my You Tube channel for future content.
