The iconic Steam Locomotive – The Flying Scotsman will be rolling through Berkshire next year in celebration of its 100th birthday.

Organised by the National Railway Museum, The Railway Touring Company is running a series of mainline steam tours.

This first will run as ‘The Cardiff Express’ on Wednesday, June 7, and on Wednesday, June 21 as ‘The Salisbury Express’.

With Flying Scotsman at its head ‘The Cardiff Express’ train will set out from London Paddington and stop at Slough and Reading en route for Cardiff. 

At Maindee a diesel loco will take over for the run into Cardiff but Flying Scotsman will haul the train for the full route on the return.

Later in June, ‘The Salisbury Express’ will see Flying Scotsman back in action. 

Again, departing from London Paddington, the train will stop at Slough and Reading as it steams to the attractive cathedral city of Salisbury.  

The famous steam train was dubbed the Flying Scotsman as it was officially the first locomotive to reach 100mph, operating the daily 10.00am service between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverley.

Heritage rail operator The Railway Touring Company has said that they are delighted to be working with the National Railway Museum to deliver a special programme of rail tours for Flying Scotsman on the mainline in 2023.

They have been organising steam days out for 25 years.

“The Railway Touring Company is very excited to be working in partnership with the National Railway Museum, Riley & Son and operator West Coast Railways Company for the 2023 celebrations,” said The Railway Touring Company’s MD Kelly Osborne. 

“With kind assistance from all involved, we have designed a programme of mainline steam day tours that will take Flying Scotsman to many parts of England, Scotland and Wales. 

"We hope rail enthusiasts young and old will join us on board ‘The Cardiff Express’ and ‘The Salisbury Express’ from Slough and Reading, for what promise to be memorable days out.”