One World’s Most Famous Steam Trains Driven By All Female Crew

One of the world’s most famous steam trains, the Flying Scotsman, has been driven by an all female crew on the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) to mark International Women’s Day.

It was crewed entirely by a female footplate team made up of ELR volunteers and a Network Rail driver.

The event celebrated the role of women in rail and aimed to encourage more women into engineering careers.

Volunteer Charlotte Instance working on board said it was “a real privilege”.

“To be on the greatest steam engine of all, it’s such an honour,” Ms Instance, who was the locomotive cleaner for the all female crew, said.

“I started about a year and a half ago, and that’s where everyone starts off on the railway as a cleaner.

“That means not just cleaning the actual engine itself, but getting in underneath, getting the ash out of the pan and smoke pops out and then learning how to fire.

“So to be here today, to be on the greatest steam engine of all, it’s such an honour.”

The crew was made up of three volunteers from the ELR, Linda Henderson, Charlotte Instance and Steph Elwood, and driver Beth Furness from Network Rail.