Flying Scotsman: Where to see iconic locomotive on London to Portsmouth journey

The Flying Scotsman will be making a return trip to Portsmouth as part of its centenary celebrations on Saturday (June 17). The iconic locomotive will depart from London Victoria and travel out of the capital to Portsmouth, where Armed Forces Day celebrations will be underway.

The Flying Scotsman will travel through Clapham Junction, Virginia Water and Chertsey and then head towards Eastleigh, Botley and Fareham before making its way towards Portsmouth and Southsea.

The Railway Touring Company and the National Railway Museum said they “appreciate there is considerable interest in Flying Scotsman”, but stress anyone wishing to see Flying Scotsman on route should do so from “a safe and permitted place”. Trespassing along rail lines or into prohibited areas of railway stations is dangerous.

It is vital that spectators do not venture onto the railway when Flying Scotsman is on the mainline as a full timetable of regular services will also be running.  For safety, keep away from the railway line.

To avoid overcrowding and incidents of trespass and to assist the British Transport Police and Network Rail, The Railway Touring Company and the National Railway Museum will not publish details of Flying Scotsman’s route or journey times – this includes positioning moves.

A Network Rail spokesperson said:“Seeing Flying Scotsman is an exciting event for many people and we want everyone to be able to enjoy the occasion, so we can’t stress enough how important it is to keep safe at the same time.

“It’s vital that you watch from a safe distance and don’t go on or near the tracks. Trespassing on the railway is incredibly dangerous and can have devastating consequences, as well as being illegal. You could face a fine of up to £1,000 and be left with a criminal record.

“Please remember to watch from a distance and behave responsibly so that everyone is able to safely enjoy the sight of the historic locomotive.”

Where can I see the Flying Scotsman on the London to Portsmouth route

The Flying Scotsman will leave London Victoria on Saturday morning (June 17). The locomotive will also be making a return journey later in the day so there will be a couple of opportunities to try and spot the train.

Timings have been provided by Realtime Trains. Here’s the route for the Flying Scotsman on June 17:

• London Victoria - Departs at 8.45am
• Grosvenor Bridge Jn
• Stewarts Lane Jn
• Longhedge Jn
• Clapham Junction 
• Barnes 
• Brentford 
• Hounslow 
• Feltham Jn
• Feltham 
• Staines - 9.33am - Departs at 9.37am
• Virginia Water
• Chertsey
• Addlestone Jn
• Byfleet & New Haw
• Woking - 10.23am - Departs at 10.26am
• Woking Jn
• Brookwood
• Pirbright Jn
• Farnborough (Main)
• Fleet 
• Winchfield - 10.59am - Departs at 11.09am
• Basingstoke
• Worting Jn
• Wallers Ash Loop
• Winchester 
• Shawford Jn
• Eastleigh
• Eastleigh South Jn
• Botley
• Fareham North Jn
• Fareham
• Cosham
• Cosham Jn
• Portcreek Jn
• Fratton East
• Fratton 
• Portsmouth & Southsea - 12.35pm - Departs at 12.41pm
• Portsmouth Harbour - Arrives at 12.48pm

Return journey

Timings have been provided by Realtime Trains. Here’s the return route for the Flying Scotsman on June 17:

• Portsmouth Harbour - Departs at 4.06pm
• Portsmouth & Southsea - 4.09pm - Departs at 4.12pm 
• Fratton - 4.15pm - Departs at 4.27pm
• Portcreek Jn
• Farlington Jn
• Havant - 4.38pm - Departs at 4.42pm
• Farlington Jn
• Cosham Jn
• Cosham
• Fareham
• Swanwick - 5.15pm - Departs at 5.25pm
• St Denys
• Northam Jn
• Southampton Central - 5.46pm - Departs at 5.52pm
• Church Lane Junction
• Redbridge
• Romsey
• Dean
• Laverstock South Jn
• Laverstock North Jn
• Andover
• Worting Jn
• Basingstoke
• Farnborough
• Brookwood Country End
• Brookwood - 7.32pm - Departs at 7.43pm
• Woking Jn
• Woking
• Byfleet & New Haw
• Addlestone Jn
• Chertsey
• Virginia Water 
• Staines - 8.17pm - Departs at 8.20pm 
• Feltham
• Feltham Jn
• Hounslow
• Brentford
• Barnes
• Clapham Junction
• Longhedge Jn
• Stewarts Lane Jn
• Grosvenor Bridge Jn
• London Victoria - 9.06pm