8mm amateur film 'The Flying Scotsman in the USA' by Ralph Maxwell Rhodes, reel 1 of 3

Original 8mm colour silent film, footage shot by Ralph Maxwell Rhodes, whilst accompanying Flying Scostman locomotive during its trip to tour the United States in 1969. Reel 1 of 5, 400 feet reel. Content includes: departure from the United Kingdom and arrival in the United States, Heathrow and view from areoplane on takeoff, view from plane window, views of Boston Docks, Alan Pegler, bagpipe players and other people, Flying Scotsman on ship, unloading Flying Scotsman

In 1969 Flying Scotsman headed to the United States on a tour intended to promote British exports. The tour broke even in its first year, but the second lost money. In a bid to balance the books, Alan Pegler, then owner of the locomotive, arranged for the train to travel to San Francisco. The trip worked well operationally but was a financial disaster. Alan Pegler was forced into bankruptcy and Scotsman was stranded in the USA. However, in 1973 Flying Scotsman was brought back to the UK after William McAlpine heard about the situation in the USA. He promptly put together a rescue plan, paying off the creditors and buying the locomotive.

Ralph Maxwell Rhodes, who worked for British Railways in Doncaster, accompanied Flying Scotsman on his journey to the USA, filming the locomotive last trip to Liverpool before its departure for the United States by sea, its arrival and unloading at Boston, and some of its American tour in 1969.