The Flying Scotsman returns to the West Country: all you need to know

The world famous locomotive will return to the West Country, travelling from Taunton to Penzance. Credit: Flying Scotsman

Legendary steam train the Flying Scotsman is returning to the West Country, travelling from Taunton through to Cornwall and returning to Bristol.

It is coming to Cornwall for what is thought to be the first time since an overhaul two years ago.

The iconic locomotive, often described as the most famous in the world, will arrive in Taunton on Thursday (4 October) and make its way to Penzance via Plymouth before returning to Bristol through Exeter on Monday.

The exact times of the visits are being kept tightly under wraps, but here's what is being reported:

THURSDAY 4 OCTOBER

  • Arriving in Taunton at 1021- departing 1655

  • Norton Fitzwarren at 1658

  • Whiteball at 1708

  • Tiverton Parkway at 1712

  • Cowley Bridge at 1749

  • Exeter St Davids at 1756 (Powderham Castle is an ideal viewing spot, reportedly passing through at around 1800)

  • Dawlish Warren at 1813

  • Dawlish at 1817

  • Teignmouth at 1821

  • Newton Abbot at 1830

  • Newton Abbot West Junction 1830

  • Dainton Tunnel 1836

  • Totnes 1842

  • Aish Emergency Crossover at 1854

  • Ivybridge at 1858

  • Hemerdon at 1902

  • Lipson junction 1910

  • Arriving in Plymouth at 1913

SATURDAY OCTOBER 6

  • Round-trip from Plymouth to Penzance.

  • Departing Plymouth at around 0900 and arriving in Penzance just after 11:00.

  • Departing Penzance just after 1300 and return to Plymouth for around 15:30.

  • Round-trip to Par, departing Plymouth at 17:00 and arriving in Par an hour later. It will head back to Plymouth for 19:00.

MONDAY OCTOBER 8

  • Departing Plymouth for Exeter at 0900, arriving in Exeter at around 10:30.

  • Departing Exeter for Bristol at around 1509 and will finish in Bristol Temple Meads at around 1649.

The iconic steam train will arrive in Taunton on Thursday 4 October and finish its West Country tour in Bristol on Monday 8 October. Credit: ITV West Country

It first made history in 1934, becoming the first steam train to reach 100 miles per hour.

She retired from regular service in 1963 after travelling more than two million miles. As well as carrying passengers all over the UK, she covered the United States, Canada and Australia.

The Flying Scotsman will arrive in Taunton on Thursday morning (4 October) and depart for Plymouth in the afternoon, passing along Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbott and Dartmoor.

On Saturday 6 October she will then depart on a round-trip from Plymouth to Penzance before heading to Exeter on Monday.

The steam train will end its flying visit to the region in Bristol on the same day.