Legendary ‘Harry Potter’ train to take epic journey cross-country

This week, tickets have gone up for sale for a cross-country tour aboard the legendary Flying Scotsman, with journeys from Bristol, Chesterfield, Derby and York.

During its operation between September 16th and 23rd, the locomotive will be stopping at seaside towns such as Scarborough and Minehead, as well as city stops in York and Bristol.

Tickets will offer first class or traditional seating options with prices starting at £99. The journey will last around six hours and thirty minutes, with regular stopping for passengers to enjoy local scenery and history, clocking in more than five hours of ‘free time’.

The journey is approximately 148 miles return, departing Derby at 10:15am, and arriving back into Derby at around 09:40pm.

Fox and Edwards Events have led the efforts to return the engine to the mainline. They are working with Northern Steam, who care for the locomotive, Vintage Trains, a leading operator of mainline steam railtours, and the National Railway Museum, custodians of Flying Scotsman.

Nick Ralls, managing director of Vintage Trains, said: "We are very experienced at operating steam on the 21st century rail network at mainline speeds. As a train operating company we are looking forward to working with Fox & Edwards Events building on previous successes with this incredible machine."

Flying Scotsman is appearing thanks to its owners the National Railway Museum. Visitors can explore Flying Scotsman’s full 2026 events calendar here.

The iconic locomotive was built in 1923 by the London & North Eastern railway.

By 1928, it had completed the first non-stop journey between London and Edinburgh and became the first steam locomotive to officially reach 100mph in 1928.

Between 1969 and 1973, the train toured the USA before being returned to Britain. This trip home was short as it then toured Australia between 1988 and 1989, becoming the first locomotive to circumnavigate the globe and setting a record non-stop run of 422 miles.

Weighing in at 97 tons and stretching to 70 feet long, it remains an iconic piece of railway and British history.