Probably the world’s most famous steam locomotive is going to be travelling through Suffolk later this year.

East Anglian Daily Times: Crowds at Ipswich railway station in 1967, when 'Flying Scotsman' visitedCrowds at Ipswich railway station in 1967, when 'Flying Scotsman' visited (Image: Archant)

The pride of the London and North Eastern Railway when it was built in 1924, A3 class No. 4472 Flying Scotsman is set to haul special excursions in East Anglia in the autumn.

Painstakingly restored by engineers working for the National Railway Museum, which owns the engine, Flying Scotsman has been a regular sight on Britain’s main and heritage railway lines since returning to steam last year.

Now it will be making its first visit since then to our region with at least three tours promoted by operators of the Cathedrals Express, Steam Dreams – one of which will see it in Ipswich.

On Wednesday, October 18 Flying Scotsman will haul an evening tour from Ely to Norwich, passing along the line through Brandon and Thetford. The return trip is diesel hauled.

On Saturday, October 21 it first hauls the East Anglian Morning Flyer, which starts and ends in Norwich.

Leaving at 8am Flying Scotsman sprints down the Great Eastern Main Line towards Ipswich but takes the new Bacon Factory Curve to Westerfield.

Then it reverses into Ipswich before darting back up to Norwich for an 11am arrival.

Finally, the same day, Flying Scotsman will leave Norwich for an evening trip to London Victoria, via Ely and Cambridge. The return train is diesel hauled.

The three tours are part of a series of eight to compliment 11 running in May.

Prices for the tours start at £67 for children and £79 for adults if you just want a seat on the train, but rise to £239 for those wanting to include a meal served during the journey.

A previous Flying Scotsman tour booked to travel through East Anglia was cancelled because of fears the huge interest in the engine would prompt people to trespass on the railway to catch a glimpse of it, as happened on its first run after overhaul between London and York.

The loco last visited Suffolk in 1968, when it visited Ipswich. It also appeared in the town the previous year.

Currently appearing as it did when owned by British Railways, which renumbered it No. 60103, Flying Scotsman spent it’s career hauling fast expresses between England’s capital and the north of the country, and Scotland.

Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, who also created steam speed record holder Mallard, Flying Scotsman appeared at the British Empire Exhibition in London in 1924 and was frequently used for publicity purposes by the LNER.

While its classmates were named mostly after famous racehorses, Flying Scotsman was named after the non-stop express which ran daily between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh Waverley, departing at 10am from both stations in opposite directions.

Find out more information about the tours on Steam Dreams’ website here.