Description

Flying Scotsman, and the Story of Gresley’s First Pacific Locomotives charts how the first “Pacific” class engines emerged under Gresley’s design at the LNER Works in Doncaster in the early 1920s. The book shows how the original Pacifics — though unremarkable at delivery — evolved into legendary machines as one, locomotive 4722, gained fame and public affection.

Author Tim Hillier‑Graves investigates what made 4722 stand out. Was it the styling, name, or performance — or a combination of all? Through 30 colour and 220 black-and-white illustrations, many from new research and archives, the book compares 4722 to her “sister” engines.

Readers will explore the broader context: how the first Pacifics changed rail travel, how they impacted society and public perception, and why none surpassed the cultural significance of the “Flying Scotsman.” This book blends technical detail, social history, and visual documentation to tell a story without parallel in railway heritage.

For railway historians, steam enthusiasts, and lovers of rail heritage, this book provides a richly detailed, accessible portrait of a pivotal moment in British steam locomotive development.