The Flying Scotsman is celebrating its 100th birthday this year with a series of special events around the UK. The iconic locomotive will visit several towns and cities around the country on its tour with many opportunities for fans and enthusiasts to catch a glimpse of the train. As the famous train celebrates its birthday, we take a look back at its century long history. Designed by chief engineer Sir Nigel Gresley and built at Doncaster’s Lyndon North Eastern Railway Works, known locally as the plant, the passenger train first entered service on February 24, 1923. The train regularly worked the Edinburgh to Lyndon express on the east coast main line. During its time in service, it broke two world records, including being the first steam locomotive to break 100 mph on November 30, 1934. The world famous train also had spells in Australia and America, it retired from service in 1963 before returning to the British shores in 1989. In 2006, the Scotsman underwent a £4.5 million refurbishment at the National Railway Museum, and in 2016, the train moved using its own steam engine for the first time in over a decade. As part of the Flying Scotsman’s centenary tour this year, fans will have the opportunity to see the train at several locations around the UK. The tour started on East Lancashire Railway in March and will be at the National Railway Museum in York until April 23, before heading out on British railways until earning a rest in Darlington on December 10. For more information about any of these events, and to get tickets, visit the National Railway Museum website. You can also sign up to the Flying Scotsman newsletter.