Launch of Flying Scotsman express

On May 25, 1862, the North British Railway and partners inaugurated the Flying Scotsman as a named express linking London King's Cross with Edinburgh Waverley. This service quickly became a symbol of Victorian engineering prowess, featuring early 4-4-0 locomotives and luxurious carriages that reduced travel time to under ten hours. It played a key role in standardizing schedules across Britain and boosting tourism and commerce between England and Scotland. The route overcame challenging gradients in the Cheviot Hills and helped popularize corridor coaches and dining cars in later decades.