Flying Scotsman Returning to Swanage Railway

One of the world’s most famous steam trains will be coming back to Dorset later this year.

The Flying Scotsman will visit Swanage Railway from 23 October to 1 November 2026.

During the visit, the locomotive will pull passenger trains on five days. On the other days, visitors will still be able to see the engine on display at the station.

The Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 and became famous around the world when it became the first steam locomotive to officially reach 100 miles per hour.

The train has visited Swanage before, in 2019 and 2022, and large crowds came to see it. Organisers expect it to be just as popular again, especially as the visit takes place during the autumn half-term holidays.

The visit is also special because 2026 marks 50 years since volunteers began restoring the Swanage railway line, after it closed in 1972.