The Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway, and earned its name from the London to Edinburgh rail service of the day. It was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, with the British Empire Exhibition of 1924 making it world famous. It is 70 feet long, and weighs 96 tonnes. It was the first train to officially hit 100mph in service, in 1934. HOWEVER, the City of Truro steam engine was claimed to have beat that speed earlier, hitting 102mph in 1904. It also set a record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive when it ran 422 miles (679 km) on August 8, 1989 while in Australia. The Flying Scotsman retired from regular service in 1963 after covering 2,076,000 miles (3,341,000 km) but has since gained considerable fame in preservation.

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The exhibition will be presented on the National Mall between the National Gallery of Art and the National Air & Space Museum. DC will feature two iconic presidential automobiles. President Taft’s 1909 Steam car will be on display from April 14 –19 and President Reagan’s 1962 Willys ‘Jeep’ CJ-6 will be on display from April 20 – 26. The event is free and open to the general public.

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The Bedfordshire Steam and Country Fayre is held at the end of September at the Old Warden Park near Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. Attracting over 20,000 visitors each year, the Bedford Steam Engine Preservation Society aims to give an insight into the country life at the turn of the 20th Century when steam was in its hey day. Many working demonstrations are taking place wherever you may care to roam on the 400 acre site.

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A steam machines are powered by a steam engine. A steam engine is an external combustion engine. Early automotive steam units have an operational thermal efficiency of 6% to 10%. There are reports that first small steam powered trolley car was built by Ferdinand Verbiest (Belgian) in about 1672.

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