UK: Science Museum Group Aims to Bring to Life Historical “Flying Scotsman” Steam Locomotive through New Immersive VR Experience
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, National Railway Museum
The “Flying Scotsman”, the world’s most famous steam locomotive, which once operated non-stop between the two capital cities of London (England) and Edinburgh (Scotland) along the “East Coast Main Line” to connect the south with the north, will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year. To celebrate the centenary, a national programme of events in 2023 around the steam locomotive, which is now owned by the National Railway Museum in York, has been prepared. Among other things, rail fans will have the opportunity to see the Flying Scotsman live and in action on several dates and at different locations across the country.
The anniversary tour of special events and offerings will also include an immersive VR experience, which the Science Museum Group – comprising a total of five museums in the UK (including the National Railway Museum) – commissioned Sarner International and Figment Productions to design and implement. To tell the incredible story of the famous steam locomotive and celebrate the golden age of steam railroads, the new attraction will combine a physical themed environment with an AR preshow followed by an untethered free-roam VR experience. The multi-sensory experiences will be available as a temporary offering at various locations in the UK, eventually becoming a permanent offer at the newly transformed National Railway Museum in York.
Mark Cutmore, Head of Commercial Experiences, Science Museum Group: “The Science Museum Group is committed to telling authentic stories in innovative ways, and this immersive experience will allow us to share Flying Scotsman’s 100 years of history in a completely unique way. Audiences will be able to get closer to Flying Scotsman than ever before, meet the people involved in its incredible history and understand why this engineering marvel is regarded by many as the world’s most famous locomotive. We’re really excited to be working with Sarner and Figment on the project to create a truly inspiring celebration of the Scotsman, its history, engineering and the science behind steam locomotion.” (eap)
