Aviemore Station, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland – Several individuals sustained injuries following a low-speed collision between the iconic steam locomotive, the Flying Scotsman, and another heritage train in the Scottish Highlands. The incident occurred at Aviemore Station in the Cairngorms National Park and is currently under investigation by local authorities.
The National Railway Museum reported the “shunting incident,” which took place at the heritage train line’s station in Aviemore, where steam train excursions operate in northern Scotland. The Flying Scotsman, renowned as the world’s most famous steam engine and commemorating its 100th anniversary this year, was scheduled for short trips from the station as part of its centenary celebrations this weekend.
Emergency services, including the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland, responded to the incident on Friday night after receiving reports of a collision between the two trains at Aviemore. Fortunately, the crash occurred at low speed, resulting in only minor injuries. Two individuals were taken to the hospital as a precaution, while three others received on-site treatment but did not require hospitalization.
According to the Belmond and Strathspey Railway, the Flying Scotsman locomotive was in the process of coupling with stationary Royal Scotsman train carriages when the collision occurred. Both the locomotive and carriages are undergoing assessment, causing disappointment among train enthusiasts who had traveled from various locations to partake in the special journey.
The Flying Scotsman, which entered service in 1923 and acquired its famous name a year later, historically connected passengers between London and Edinburgh. Its worldwide prominence was cemented in 1934 when it achieved a remarkable speed of 100 mph (160 kph) during a special test run, becoming the first locomotive in the U.K. to reach that velocity. The locomotive was retired from regular service in 1963.
In subsequent years, the Flying Scotsman embarked on tours in the United States and Australia and continued to operate special train trips in the U.K. It was eventually acquired by the National Railway Museum in York, where a multimillion-pound restoration project was undertaken in recent years. As a result of the collision, the locomotive will not haul any trains this weekend, pending inspection on Monday.