Rivals Reunited – Pendennis Castle & Flying Scotsman - Steam Days

We expect to be extremely busy on these special days, so pre-booking is essential as we cannot guarantee tickets will be available on the door.

Opening hours for our Flying Scotsman Steam Days will be 9am - 5pm. Last Admission 2:30.

Member admission - we continue to say thank you to our members for your support over the years and would ask that you also pre-book your tickets to this event. To qualify for membership entry, you must have been a paid member on 7th February 2025 and enter your membership number when booking. All member bookings will be checked and any booking not meeting the qualifying criteria will be cancelled.

We are excited to announce that we will be welcoming back the iconic Flying Scotsman to Didcot Railway Centre to star alongside Pendennis Castle. On the 100th anniversary of their first meeting, we are beyond thrilled to bring them together again.

• At various times during the day, you'll be able to ride in vintage coaches behind both locomotives on our main demonstration line and take advantage of photo opportunities with both engines side by side in front of our 1932 engine shed.
• McAlpines locomotive Number 31 will also appear on display (subject to completion).
• A special temporary exhibition with some rarely seen artefacts of these locomotives' intertwined lives.
• All of our regular exhibitions and facilities open as usual (see below)

A Shared History

In 1924/25, an event at Wembley probably had the most important effect on Wembley's history and this was the British Empire Exhibition. The idea for a great exhibition to show off the industry and natural resources of the British Empire was first suggested before the First World War. In 1919, the Prince of Wales agreed to be the president of the organising committee for an exhibition whose aim was ....to enable all who owe allegiance to the British flag to meet on common ground and learn to know each other.

By 1921 the former park grounds at Wembley Park had been chosen as the place to hold it, within easy reach of London and with a good railway service. It was an exhibition like no other and the engineering hall featured some of the greatest mechanical feats in the world. To this day, these remain steeped in history.

The first part of the exhibition at Wembley featured GWR Caerphilly Castle, now on display at the STEAM museum in Swindon, and when the exhibition reopened in May 1925, Pendennis Castle had taken its place.

It was at that exhibition in May 1925 that Pendennis Castle and Flying Scotsman first met. For the last 100 years, these two icons of steam have a rich history together, having both been owned by Sir William McAlpine (Bill) in the 1970's. Not only did the engines meet here in the UK over the course of their lives, they also met in Australia where Pendennis Castle was resident for a while. They last met together in 1988.

McAlpines No.31

In addition, we are also delighted to be joined by No 31, which is the resident steam locomotive at Fawley. This was also owned by Bill McAlpine. The engine was used on a series of famous construction projects in her time. The Empire Exhibition and Stadium Complex at Wembley (1923-1924), RAF Boscombe Down (1944) and Llanwern Steelworks (1960-1961) were just a few examples. Ordered by the Ministry of Fuel and Power, it was built in 1913 and delivered new to Robert McAlpine & Sons, Cuffley. It was painted in Caledonian Blue, a colour that it retained throughout its working life. It worked on a number of building contracts including Wembley Stadium (1923-1924), RAF Boscombe Down (1944) and Llanwern Steelworks (1960-1961). The locomotive was rebuilt by Hudswell Clark & Co in 1938.

No 31 went into storage at McAlpine’s yard at Hayes in 1961 and remained there until it was identified for scrapping in1965. At this point, Sir William decided to give No 31 a new life in retirement and purchased the locomotive. No 31 arrived at Fawley in September 1965 and was subsequently repainted in GWR Brunswick green livery.  Above the smokebox door is carried loco shed plate 81M – a code unique to Fawley. No 31 is currently under overhaul at Didcot Railway Centre and subject to this being completed, will star alongside Pendennis Castle and Flying Scotsman. As of late April, it seams unlikely that we will be in a position to steam this locomotive at the event, but we still hope to put it on display.

Pendennis Castle

The GWR lent the locomotive to the London & North Eastern Railway for trials against Sir Nigel Gresley's mighty new Pacifics exemplified by No.4472 Flying Scotsman. Working 16-coach trains on the East Coast main line from Kings Cross, the stalwart Castle covered itself in soot and glory, thoroughly out-performing its larger competitors. Her exploits were the talk of every schoolboy in Britain and the GWR rather cheekily sent Pendennis Castle to stand alongside Flying Scotsman at the 1925 British Empire Exhibition at Wembley with a notice proclaiming her to be the most powerful passenger express locomotive in Britain.

Flying Scotsman

Flying Scotsman needs no introduction! What started life as just another of Sir Nigel Gresley's A1 class of locomotives, is now considered the most famous locomotive in the world. How did it get there?

Flying Scotsman was built in Doncaster, the first locomotive of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). It went into service on 24 February 1923 with number 1472. It was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley as part of the A1 class—the most powerful locomotives used by the LNER at that time.

By 1924, when it was selected to appear at the British Empire Exhibition in London, the loco had been renumbered 4472—and given the name 'Flying Scotsman' after the daily 10.00 London to Edinburgh rail service which started in 1862.

Other Exhibits

All the regular exhibitions and facilities of our 21 acre living museum will be open as usual. 

• Stroll around the 1932 Engine Shed housing our unique collection of operational and cosmetically-restored locomotives. Find 5900 Hinderton Hall, climb onto the footplate and listen to Archie, the driver, and Stan, the fireman, prepare their loco! Listen out for the sounds of a working engine shed and see if you can hear Stan fetch his supplies from Jonah, the storeman.
• Visit the carriage and wagon display of restored rolling stock from Victorian times to the 1940s, including the VIP Saloon reputed to have been used by General Eisenhower during the preparations for D-Day and later used in the GWR Royal Train, and our restoration workshops
• Marvel at Brunel's Broad Gauge railway, locomotives, coaches and transfer shed and don't miss a section of his not entirely successful 'Atmospheric Railway'
• Get hands-on in The Signalling Centre where you can find out how trains have been controlled through the ages.  The Swindon Panel is demonstrated on certain specified dates.
• Descend into a shelter built to keep Didcot's enginemen safe in WWII and experience an air raid
• Immerse yourself in the huge and varied collection of fascinating, smaller items in the Museum. 
• Discover some GWR road vehicles in the Road Transport Hangar.

Children can make tracks to the outdoor play area or dress up as a station master. You can relax over lunch or enjoy a snack in the refreshment rooms and don't forget to pick up a souvenir in the gift shop. The modern trains running past the centre complete the picture and mean you can experience over 180 years of railway progress in just one day!