Billy Boyd as Malky McGovern: Obree's manager. When approached to have a role in the film, Boyd knew only the "basic elements" of Obree's story. [6] Boyd, being Scottish, felt it important to have the right script and further promote Scottish film. Despite these errors, a movie worth watching. It is available on video in Britain as part of the Steam Cinema series. a b Keogh, Tom (4 May 2007). " "The Flying Scotsman's" inspirational tale sends spirits soaring". Seattle Times . Retrieved 28 June 2007. The historic Flying Scotsman locomotive was in Aviemore this week operating services along the Strathspey Heritage Railway to Boat of Garten and Broomhill. Now forgive the obvious did this little film perhaps provide some inspiration for the actual Great Train Robbery a few years later in 1963? Even the lead is called Ronnie, get it?

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "The most noteworthy thing about this crime programme filler is that it was scripted by Norman Hudis, who wrote six Carry On films. As with most British B-movies of the period, a clutch of transatlantic stars were imported to raise the profile, but they couldn't do much to distract from the mediocrity of this train robbery thriller." [8] This is a film I recall seeing a few times as a 'B' movie in the cinema. It concerns an attempt to rob a train of cash. It's a pretty poor movie to be honest. but quite good fun... so when it came up in the listings for the 'Talking Pictures' channel .. I recorded it. I've just watched it and noticed that the train pulls out being hauled by what looks a bit like a 'Scot' or similar engine.. though not seen too clearly. A little later the same train is being hauled by a fully streamlined 'Coronation' class and yet later by a rather indistinct thing which might be a B1.. Later still another loco, this time with smoke deflectors. And when the train finally pulls into the station for the last scenes, it is very clearly being hauled by a Great Western engine.. possibly a Hall or a Castle.. I'm not 'up' on such things.

a b c d e " "The Flying Scotsman" production notes" (PDF). Verve Pictures . Retrieved 28 June 2007. All the standard "B" elements are then deployed. Lots of talk and the plot line contrived so as to use the same sets over and over again; lots of filling out with extraneous plot strands that have very little to do with the main story; and all the scriptwriter's ingenuity channeled into ways to eke out the running time rather than ways to make the film more exciting.

As the film progresses the adult Obree is now married to Anne with a child. In between competing in local races, he runs a failing bicycle shop and has to supplement his income as a bicycle courier. Graeme encounters Malky McGovern (Boyd), a fellow bike courier, who recognises who Graeme is and they become fast friends. While working in his shop an older gentleman called Baxter (Cox), asks Graeme to repair his old bike. Graeme agrees after roping Baxter into being the judge over a race with a local van driver. Graeme narrowly beats the driver but the van steers into him. Baxter takes an immediate liking to Graeme but recognises a darkness in the younger man. The Flying Scotsman is taking part at volunteer-run Strathspey Railway and was due to be running tours on Saturday and Sunday. Representatives of both the Flying Scotsman and the railway have been asked to comment. THE FLYING SCOT is an engagingly low budget little heist movie set on board a train, where a gang of criminals are planning to steal money from the Royal Mail carriage by accessing it from an adjoining compartment. The film has a clever little set-up which sees the plan played out as the thieves would wish before it moves to the real world, where unsurprisingly things are far more unexpected and complex. Graeme decides to try and beat the hour record. However, he has neither the funding nor the quality of bicycle required. Determined to succeed, he asks Malky to take over his management and fundraising from his wife Anne who is overwhelmed with work and raising their child. Cox turns out to be a boatyard owner and offers Graeme and Malky his yard to build a fitting bike. Graeme sets himself 8 weeks to build a bike, raise funds for the challenge and pay for access to a fitting velodrome. The driving force for such a tight deadline is because Chris Boardsman's attempt for breaking the record is the 9th week.COMMENT: "The Flying Scot" starts off most ingeniously with not a word spoken for the first 15 or 20 minutes. Of course, the idea was stolen from "Rififi" but it's still a suspenseful one even in this grade "B" work-out. The sequence turns out to be a neat joke on the audience, and thereafter the film follows a more predictable course.