RTC Flying Scotsman/Black 5s to Carlisle 23rd January

Didn't the NRM source a replacement for the old one? Because if they didn't they ought to have at least considered it. It was poor for years. Must be some good reason for this because the whistle on the K4 is plenty loud enough.

 

Both the Mad Hants and the Moors are flat compared to the Foxfield so I don't know why you two are arguing.

 

As Ian knows better than anyone though until its gone through the formalities of final certification there is an element of uncertainty? Reading Ian's post he understandably hasn't categorically said it will take the train. Fingers crossed and barring the unforseen etc but it'll be ready when he's happy it's ready, not before.

 

No argument. I'm just throwing out bait for the fish to bite on.......

 

Oh no they can't.

 

From recollection, A3's always had a high pitched, less than impressive whistle rather like the B1 Mayflower or the alternative Tornado whistle. It certainly doesn't compare to "hair on the back of the neck" whistles of the GWR or the chime whistles of A4 and Britannia classes. I do wonder sometimes how men on the PW hear an approaching train with such a paltry whistle. No disrepect to the magnificent loco that is Flying Scotsman of course.

 

Not "they can", but "it's compulsory".

 

Just to clarify the matter, the information within the Railway Herald article was taken from a short interview with a member of the NRM press team at the media event on the East Lancashire Railway on 8th January, and not from internet gossip as is being alleged by a number of parties. As the owners of the locomotive, one would understandably take this information as a given. As anyone who has actually bothered to read the article will no doubt realise, there is nothing within but praise for the efforts of Ian and his team, the NRM and the ELR for the way that the locomotive performed during its inaugural weekend.

 

^ I'm no expert, but going by your previous postings I think you might work for Railway Herald

"Short Interview with a member of the NRM Press Team"

 

Indeed I do, as is clearly implied in the post above!

 

Afternoon all, new member here and interested in seeing Scotsman next week... So, after all the comments above I assume it's definitely going to be out on the main line on 23rd January?

 

Welcome.
If all goes according to plan the answer is yes. Check for updates throughout the next week is probably the best advice.

 

To be fair to the Railway Herald report that is more or less all it was saying too.

 

It's a standard LNER whistle as fitted to all standard LNe locos apart from A4s and P2s. The first chime whistle for Cock of the North was acquired, according to the well known story, from Capt. Howey of the RH&DR

 

The NRM press office are just that and not really involved. If I want to know what's happening at the coal face I'd ask a miner not the colliery owner so I'm reassured by Ian Riley's post above.

 

It seemed a highly organised press event from what was shown, I'm sure everyone was on board with the party line. Seems to me they were just exercising justifiable caution really rather than create any hostages to fortune and this is what was fairly unsensationally reported.

 

Lots of things can make a whistle sound pathetic; even two of the same design can be like chalk and cheese. I've heard bad GWR whistles and, dare I say it, good ones. A good LNER pipsqueak whistle is as loud as you can get when everything is set up correctly. When the Britannia's first appeared with their chimes, people thought that they were poor compared with an identical A4 one because, unlike the A4, they had an exposed length of pipe that filled with water. ISTR that, if you pulled the lever right down, 45407's hooter was worse than a damp squib a couple of years ago but was much improved when I last had cause to use it. I don't know what has changed, though.