Flying Scotsman

Here are some of the Newspaper reports from today's papers. Clockwise from top left Telegraph, Express, Guardian, Daily Mail. Great coverage.

 

Hi flying scotsman has air and vac can work both types of trains air and vac the loco has a steam compressor for make air and a vac injector for making vac the loco does not need a back up loco for brakes i think loco behind is for thunderbird dutys FISH7373 81c

 

Failed/defective air pump according to the TV news on Friday, explaining the presence of 5407.

 

I gave up at 14:30 with all the late runnings - Ramsbottom manic and gridlocked, Roadworks on A56 into Rawtenstall - suggest plan around these tomorrow!

Will try again tomorrow if the weather is better

Probably cold soup on tonights diner at this rate as well

pictures here upto 14:30 http://steamingnorth.com/

John

 

What you should have said is......"This is what's currently available from the NRM.

 

Interesting day at the ELR today, trains started 1 hour late, as 45407 was failed this morning (following priming yesterday evening). Time continued to be lost throughout the day as the timetable has been written with the idea the Scotsman would be fully ready, however with the need for a second engine, running round at either end took 2-3 times the length of time allowed and both engines needed to take on water at times, hence as the day went on the train got later. At Rawtenstall, you can only fit one loco in the headshunt, and at Heywood the engines need to run round individually anyway, as FS needs to be at the front. The timing issue was not helped by the decision to swap the class 31 out for 45407 in the middle of the day. By the end of the day, timings were out by about 2.5 hours, the last public train to Heywood was cancelled because of the time and taxis were provided.

Overall a good day, but possibly a few lessons to be learnt! For tomorrow, maybe the two engines can run-round together at Heywood to save time, it probably isn't the end of the world if the Black 5 is first tender first, most people probably wouldn't notice anyway!

 

If it was you I snuck behind - many thanks; in fairness you were located on the step before my arrival hence my determination NOT to disturb your view. As for the piccie - it was taken at 4000ISO which confirms the darkness of the scene and the day got little better although the rain did stop shortly after 60103's first departure from Rawtenstall.

 

I must say I think that's a shame, a ropey start for 60103, hopefully it gets better as time goes on, but you'd think they'd be better prepared as it took so long to get it back up and running.

On another note, it's depressing that my favourite locomotive, 45407 failed this morning

 

on the contrary, i think FS had had an excellent day today and yesterday.

this has been a mammoth rebuild. i am not at all surprised with braking problems requiring a second loco.

i think Ian Riley and his team have done a most excellent job in a challenging timescale when you consider the huge engineering challenges and complexities involved.

as for cost, all this money has gone to UK specialised engineering companies so has done a great deal of good as a basic knowledge of economics will show.

cheers,
julian

 

That's where my teenage mind fails me, economics, I will admit I have no patience either so in my head, the second Scotsman had braking issues I felt let down
Upon reflection it would seem that this was little hasty, hats off to Riley and his team and good luck for tomorrow

 

It's been fine.

Having a launch event mere days after its first turn of a wheel in ~10 years was always a risk, for the engineering crew, for the ELR and the NRM. I think they've all got away with it.

Any enthusiast who turned up thinking they were guaranteed faultless running needed their head read.

Simon

 

When you consider the amount of work that has gone into this overhaul the engine appears to be doing well. No doubt details of the brake issue will become clear, just as they have for 45407 (and if it is the pump, you can make a long list of engines that have had these pieces of equipment play up). The anti-vacuum valve appears to be blowing through ever so slightly and there will be a few other items that will need attention following the shakedown period. Whoever set the valves needs applauding because when having to work the locomotive is sounding very good. Some are looking forward to the 23rd and are getting the feeling that it could prove to be a very good day.

As to the operating issues of the day, it was always going to be somewhat trying in the circumstances. Sunday should be better. And it looks as though the rain might clear for a while, which is good for all concerned, or maybe not if you don't like crowds.

 

would have been very damaging

I too gave up, at Heywood on arrival at 1435, 86 late because if not I would have missed the 1555 Piccadilly to Euston on which I had an advance ticket. In theory this should have been safe enough as the train was due back in Bolton Street at 1338! Fortunately the road which crosses the railway at the entrance to the station carries the high frequency Service 163 bus route which took me back to town in 45 minutes. This info might be helpful to others in future.

As to the day well lets just say that the ELR made the best of it though I am not sure they helped themselves at times. For instance the protracted run round movement at Rawtenstall didn't really need the 31 to be moved as many times as it did, blocking the view of FS in the process. It could have stayed on the train and waited for FS to start it's move first as FS would have had to move by itself at some stage anyway. Our coach steward was very good and I thought crowd control was good as well. As to FS, well it ran and it headed the train but the notion that the 31 was there just for braking isn't true as the only time I could here FS working was on the final mile to Heywood. As others have said it was all a bit rushed but NRM had gone public high profile and it just had to happen as otherwise the adverse publicity would have been very damaging. None of what happened yesterday can take anything away from Ian Riley and his team who have done a superb job. The failure of 45407 was just cruel bad luck.

As an aside the highlight of the day for me was a run behind the magnificent 34092 which was in full Golden Arrow regalia. It looked and sounded superb.

Don

 

Aaah, that's my big brother talking as I like him to talk!

Cheers,

"Little" brother Bryan.

 

Good on you for returning to the thread to make that post. Says a lot about you.

 

Just got up and have been reading a large number of news articles about Scotsman today, all very positive stuff. The forums, Facebook groups and twitter feeds are buzzing with good vibes. So why does yours stand out particularly? Well, because you're focusing on an air pump failure which is something that has happened to a number of locomotives. Scotsman herself sounded excellent yesterday on the videos I saw.

I hope everyone who is going to see her today has a great time. Take lots of footage, it's history in the making

 

Ok, the timetable went to pot, the weather was alternately lousy and bearable, there were shed loads of people, traffic and parking was a pain, it was chaos and confusion, it was facing the ring way for the best shots, I was cold wet and tired, and 4472s whistle was pathetic with a capital Pee

SO WHAT

It ran all day, the atmosphere trackside was fantastic - utterly unparalleled, and I was delighted to be there.

Here is my effort, Two very good in your face moments, one where the regulator is cranked open to give a hint of whats to come, and a glorious soundtrack at the end in the gloom of the A3 and the Black 5

 

I think it's been a great week, all this knashing of teeth about late running, air pump problems, the black 5 having a bit of a hiccup.............all minor things. Let's not forget FS has been a nut and bolt strip down, everything, untold HARD engineering hours have gone into it and here we are, fire lit, steam raised, and a couple of minor problems..........it's been a great week and the public can't thank enough ALL the folk who have given us this.

 

Excellent video - thanks for sharing that