Bid to save Flying Scotsman

Published on Wednesday 18 February 2004 00:00

A RESCUE bid to keep the Flying Scotsman in Britain was launched yesterday, after the world’s best-known locomotive was put up for sale.

A former head of the National Railway Museum in York, Andrew Dow, plans to form a consortium to raise at least 1.5 million to buy the engine.

The company which owns the Flying Scotsman said delays with its plans to house the loco in a visitor centre near Waverley Station, Edinburgh, had forced the sale.

The 81-year-old locomotive, which, in 1934, became the first to reach 100mph, has hauled rail excursions since being restored five years ago. However, the firm has since built up debts of 1.5 million.

Mr Dow, a York-based businessman, who plans a public appeal to back a grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: "This locomotive is every bit as important to this nation as the Spitfire or Mini, particularly as it is the only one of its type left."

David Speight, of the consultants handling the sale, said: "We expect there will be considerable interest in ensuring [the Flying Scotsman] remains in the UK. It is likely, however, that a number of bids will be received from overseas parties."

Peter Butler, the chief executive of Flying Scotsman plc, said: "Naturally, we are disappointed at this development."