On the 1st January 1948 British Railways was formed through the unification of the big four railway companies (LNER,LMS,GWR,SR) into a single state owned entity.
Flying Scotsman was repainted into British Rail green and allocated the number 60103.
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| 60130 Flying Scotsman |
To improve performance and efficiency the A3 Pacific's including Flying Scotsman were fitted with double chimneys.
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| 60130 Flying Scotsman with double chimney |
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| 60103 ‘Flying Scotsman’ waits departure from Retford station with the 10.21am train to King’s Cross April 1959 |
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| 60103 Flying Scotsman at King's Cross 1960 |
In 1955 British Railways had announced a Modernisation Plan which included the replacement of steam locomotives by diesels.
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| 60103 Flying Scotsman on Tees Thames Express at Peterborough passing Deltic diesel locomotive. |
The fitting of double chimney's caused smoke and exhaust to obscure the drivers view, so in 1960 the locomotives affected were fitted with smoke deflectors.
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| 60130 Flying Scotsman with smoke deflectors |
In 1962 British Railways announced that 60103 Flying Scotsman would be scrapped. The locomotives last day of service with British Railways was 14 January 1963.
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| 60103 Flying Scotsman January 1963 |
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| 60103 Flying Scotsman Kings Cross 14 Jan 1963 |
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| 60103 Flying Scotsman Kings Cross 14 Jan 1963 |
A campaign was launched to save Flying Scotsman which was being sold by British Railways for £3,000. It was bought by businessman Alan Pegler who had first seem the locomotive at the British Empire exhibition in 1924.