Flying Scotsman

I have to say nice one Anthony! The NRMs had a fair old bit of stick lately so its nice to see the praise this great news is getting and rightly so. Thankyou!

 

Only if you don't count her many years of post 1963 running as "working."

 

No, its not an awful decision by the NRM. After a few difficult years with funding problems and job losses they have made some great decisions at a tough time. They put on the brilliant Mallard events, decided to get 34051 in pristine condition and persisted with the restoration of 60103 despite all of the problems that have arisen. Remember the problems were not their fault.
An awful decision would have been the NRM stuffing and mounting 60103 in the Great Hall at York. I understand they nearly came close to this decision. Imagine the uproar if they had done that after all this time. By putting her in BR guise they are merely doing what is right for her current appearance. I will, like many others, simply enjoy seeing her working and in the best condition she will have been in for some time.

 

Not if WCR is operating it.........

 

Although my own preference is for apple green with single chimney, I would agree that if Scotsman is to retain her double chimney, then she should be in BR green.

However, I must admit that I didn't think the NRM would be brave enough to turn her out in Brunswick green straight away, because she is almost always portrayed as 4472 in marketing and merchandising. I was expecting that the museum would turn her out in apple green at least for an initial period, before transforming her into BR green to appease Wilcock's army. I got that wrong, then!

Anyway, important thing is that she will be running again! And hopefully, she will return to apple green in time for her centenary, which will fall during the life of her next boiler certificate...!

 

Hold your breath................

 

I'm sure it will get painted again to apple green.

Picture the scene - you're 12 years old, you dad has taken you to see 'the flying scotsman' and it's the first time you see a big steam engine. You're blown away by the size of the thing and get incredibly excited going for a ride on the train..you go with your dad up the platform and the driver lets you stand on the edge of the footplate, and gives you a bit of coal from the tender. This sparks a life long interest in steam locomotives, and for you to ask your dad for books and models of the flying Scotsman.

Oh, and it was BR green, with German smoke deflectors. Dartmouth - early 90s.

Without that experience I doubt my interest would have been sparked and I can only hope that if its blue, green, pink or Virgin trains red a few more little lads see it racing past or visit a preserved railway to spark their interest in steam engines and give the preservation movement a future!

 

Ps. I still have the lump of coal...

 

This is Flying Scotsman

This is just another steam engine

The first introduction I ever had to Scotsman was at the Swanage Railway in 1994, in her BR green livery. I (and several others as I recall) was somewhat underwhelmed, this wasn't the Flying Scotsman we were familiar with from (for example) Thomas the Tank Engine stories or whatever.

And if you still think I'm wrong, do a Google Image Search for "Flying Scotsman". Guess which colour predominates?

 

I don't mind what livery its in really and I'll keep out of that debate , although there does seem to be a lot of BR liveries out and about at the moment.

When it does return to steam does anyone know who will operate it e.g. WCR or DBS? If I were the NRM I would want it to do a good mixture of mainline tours and visits it heritage railways to make sure you get as many people to see it and ride behind it (tours can be expensive sadly ). It wouldn't just be good PR for the NRM but also the heritage railways who would benefit from having 4472 as not only would it bring in us lot but also the general public who would be interested in seeing her as she is one of the most famous engines on the planet.

 

I'm sure it will get painted again to apple green.
Picture the scene - your 12 years old, you dad has taken you to see 'the flying scotsman' and it's the first time you see a big steam engine. Your blown away by the size of the thing and get incredibly excited going for a ride on the train..you go with your dad up the platform and the driver lets you stand on the edge of the footplate, and gives you a bit of coal from the tender. This sparks a life long interest in steam locomotives, and for you to ask your dad for books and models of the flying Scotsman.
Oh, and it was BR green, with German smoke deflectors. Dartmouth - early 90s.
Without that experience I doubt my interest would have been sparked and I can only hope that if its blue, green, pink or Virgin trains red a few more little lads see it racing past or visit a preserved railway to spark their interest in steam engines and give the preservation movement a future!

From this description it sounds as though you were impressed by the fact that the loco was big and green. On another day it could have been Lydham Manor that sparked your interest. As all the models at that time would most likely have been apple green weren't you disappointed when they didn't match what you had seen?

For me, the fact that the overhaul has cost as much as it has makes a mockery of the argument that a new single chimney cannot be afforded, and I'm sure that if better steaming was sought the drafting, not normally seen, could have been upgraded by means of a single Lempor or similar arrangement.

 

I cant understand some of the vitriol on here about 60103's livery, surely first and foremost the most important thing is it'll work again and have a fire in its belly?!

 

I am not aware of any formal announcement of TOC has yet been made. Correct me if I am wrong. Ian Riley is announced as responsible custodian though. My reading of the NRM press statement appears to give no indication of when it might actually operate on the National Railway Network so that might be not happen until well into 2016. Thus, plenty of time to sort out the TOC question.

 

I've started saving up, KX to York, it won't be cheap and it WILL be sold out.
Any colour will suit me fine.
As I understand it Mr Riley and his men will run and maintain it for the first 2 years on behalf of the NRM. Mr Riley has a well deserved reputation for being sure his locos are fit and healthy.

 

Running in on the ELR? Thats some pay day for them if it happens

 

Member of the general public here - couldn't care less whether it was turned out in wartime black as originally planned, apple green, express blue or dark green, I just want to see her in steam. However...

I don't disagree entirely that the LNER apple green is its most authentic livery and - where possible - in future Scotsman should be restored to as close to her A3 appearance as possible.

She has not had a single chimney since at least 1992, which by my maths is around 23 years with the double chimney and smoke deflectors. Almost as long as when Pegler had them removed and she ran under him and then William McAlpines ownership.

So arguably she's more recognisable to the general public now in the bizarre miss-mash of LNER apple green livery, smoke deflectors and double chimney, previously an A4 type boiler, and a corridor tender.

To be frank, restoring her to the A3 boiler and overall form at the locomotive end is begging for BR dark green to be applied - and she'll look the part all the same.

I would just like them to apply the smokebox number plate correctly to the smokebox door this time around.