Museum hopes late bid will save the Flying Scotsman

Published on Friday 2 April 2004 01:00

A BID to save the Flying Scotsman locomotive for the nation was lodged yesterday by the National Railway Museum on the eve of the closing date for the sale.

The museum, in York, said it had offered more than 425,000, which was raised from a public appeal, plus an undisclosed "substantial donation" from Sir Richard Branson.

Earlier this week, the Virgin Group chairman said he would match the museum’s offer on condition that the locomotive was taken off the market, but this approach appears to have been rejected by the sellers.

Bids must be lodged by 4pm today, with the winner expected to be announced early next week.

The debt-ridden company which owns the Flying Scotsman said it had put it up for sale because of the lack of progress with plans for a heritage centre at Waverley station in Edinburgh.

The locomotive, which was the first engine to reach 100mph, in 1934, has been used for luxury rail tours in England since being restored.

It hauled the first non-stop train between London and Edinburgh in 1928.

Andrew Scott, the head of the museum, said: "The level of support and the strength of feeling towards this historic locomotive has been absolutely staggering. There can be no doubt that without the generous donations and goodwill of the British public, we could not even have hoped to put together a worthwhile bid.

"We remain as optimistic as ever that the National Railway Museum will at last be able to provide a secure future for the Flying Scotsman, and that this historic locomotive will take its rightful place at our Railfest celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the train in May."

Mr Scott said that more than 5,500 calls, letters and e-mails had been received by museum staff since the appeal was launched two months ago.