World’s smallest exhibition on display at King’s Cross celebrates ‘Icons of the East Coast’

Micro sculptures showcase evolution of passenger rail travel from Flying Scotsman to the upcoming Virgin Azuma

Exhibition staged to mark one hundred weeks until Virgin Azuma comes into service

Commuters were invited to feast their eyes on intricate micro-sculptures of locomotive ‘Icons of the East Coast’ through the ages, which are on display in the world’s smallest exhibition at King’s Cross station, London, for today only (October 3).

The beautifully crafted micro-sculptures showcase the evolution of British passenger rail travel, from the early days of Flying Scotsman right through to the Virgin Azuma, which is set to revolutionise UK travel when it arrives on the east coast in 2018.

Visitors to the free exhibition used magnifying glasses to view the tiny and detailed sculptures, which are near impossible to appreciate with the naked eye. Visitors were able to feast their eyes on the microscopic steam engine of Flying Scotsman, in service from 1923, the windows and doors on the Virgin Flying Scotsman, launched in 2015, and the advanced, sleek lines of the Virgin Azuma, coming in one hundred weeks time.

When it arrives, the Virgin Azuma will be one of the most advanced trains on the UK’s rail network, and will embody the customer-centric approach which Virgin Trains is famous for.

David Horne, Managing Director at Virgin Trains on the east coast said: “The Virgin Azuma is set to be one of the most state of the art trains on the network when it arrives in 2018. What better way to celebrate one hundred weeks to go than to showcase its elegance alongside other landmark trains with these stunning intricate sculptures. We think they are a fantastic way of highlighting the progression of rail travel in Great Britain through the years, while also looking forward to the future and the coming of Azuma, the next and, arguably, most exciting, chapter in the wonderful story of rail.”

Paul Kirkman, Museum Director at National Railway Museum commented: “The National Railway Museum is home to over 300 years of rail history and we’re always looking for interesting ways to make this history come to life. We’re delighted to see Flying Scotsman in this exhibition, which is a fun way to showcase to the public a snapshot of the incredible advancements in passenger train travel over the ages.”

The exhibition closes at 7pm today.