The Flying Scotsman

These new small, landscape books take the most popular subjects in our markets and put them into an accessible format and price. The aim will be to launch the first two books in this new style in the autumn of 2010 and follow these with two in spring 2011 and two in autumn 2011. We will start with two subjects with very broad appeal - Routemaster and Flying Scotsman - and follow with other similar subjects in our core transport subject areas. These books will be written by authorities in the subject and will appeal to the enthusiast but will tell the story of the subject in an accessible style, attractively illustrated throughout, to appeal also to a broad market of those more generally interested in the subject. The Flying Scotsman is arguably the most famous locomotive in the world. Built by the LNER in 1923 the locomotive soon became the company's flagship locomotive, appearing in contemporary advertising for its prestigious London-Edinburgh service, also called the 'Flying Scotsman'. The Flying Scotsman became the first locomotive to complete this run nonstop and also the first steam engine to officially be recorded at 100mph. Following withdrawal from service in 1963 The Flying Scotsman was bought privately and restored to its original livery and run throughout the UK. It was also taken on a worldwide tour to Australia. Currently being restored by the National Railway Musuem, who bought it for the nation in 2004, No 4472 is due back on the tracks in 2010. As previously in its 40 years of preservation it will tour the country on main lines and visit preserved lines so that thousands of enthusiasts will once again be able to see this superb steam engine live.