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

Ive said this before so its not with hindsight.. FS should have had longer running in.. enough time to iron out these problems... its a very long shot to assume the loco will be 100% after such a long time out.. I always thought that trips and preserved line visits were booked with indecent haste.. get it right then use it.. lot of unhappy people who booked first trip back and are dissapointed.
And before engineers/owners/works owners have a go at me for not understanding.. its just my own opinion ..

 

Couldn't agree more

 

Things have to be planned well in advance so if you waited until the loco was "100% ready" before planning tours and visits, there would be a hiatus during which 60103 would not be earning her keep. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. C'est la vie.

 

Loads of them wont have done. A big picture of FS advertising the trip will have helped!

Everyone in the know knew this this trip was tight against the starting gate. When looked at in the light of the rest of its finishing detail, debut schedule and unveiling it was clearly out of step. It was in truth, a little unfair to big it up like this, specially for the pax, lot of who would not have been in the know.

 

Tend to agree that the 23rd was hoped to coincide with readiness rather than planned resolutely to do so, hence the announced plan b. Having said that there were some fairly unequivocal words emanating from the senior engineer several weeks ago that it would be ready for the trip.
The transfer of workshop was unfortunately timed too; it was probably envisaged the loco would be completed some time in advance of the works move.
As far as customers go they can have no complaint, having booked in the slightly speculative circumstances.
If missing the trip this week means more time to get it ready for full launch without further hitch that's a good thing.

 

This has happened many times in the past with locos advertised to work trains in the hope they will be ready in time and it still is, there are trips in March advertised for haulage by 46201. I do have some sympathy with the loco owners, with significant sums of money spent on an overhaul they will want to get their engine earning its keep as soon as possible.
Perhaps for those who still continue to believe the advertised locomotive can be guaranteed a health warning can be put on the booking form.

 

It does happen a lot. Hopefully the precedent of announcing the contingency plan alongside the proposal will become the norm, especially if locos can be pooled effectively.
The lesson learned, hopefully, is that the period of prior proving needs to be much longer ideally, even the owners/engineering team probably think in this case it was sub optimal due to a combination of circumstances.

 

You can also add to that the money making launch at the ELR which turned into a complete fiasco.

 

Think you'll find the money was made, all the trains were pre booked months in advance. The loco appeared, feedback seemed positive.

 

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50581/2016/01/22/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U50586/2016/01/22/advanced

 

es
I wouldn't be too sure about that. ln 1966 I had a black five on 13 over Shap though that was southbound. They are good engines

 

Well said Don. I think I had a good run Southbound over Shap with a Black 5 on a decent load too back then.

One of the reasons they are my favourite non SR steam loco. And I did even have one up from Wareham to Waterloo on an Weymouth -Waterloo express back in the day.

Just a shame they are limited to 60 mph these days. But that is no doubt a matter for loco owners etc who quite naturally have the right to set and operate their prides at the speeds they feel are right.

 

Back to Scotsman. Of course it's a disappointment for those who had booked on the 23rd Jan trip. Especially if they had really wanted to be on the first main line trip and can't now do that when it happens.

But, fingers firmly crossed for you all, (not for me, I am not a fan of this loco), when it does get going into what are hopefully years of good service again, all this will become a distant memory.

 

Your name is in the book. Expect a visit from the "re-eduction squad." They say that Siberia is quite picturesque at this time of year.

 

Network Rail Charter Train Notice gives locos as 44871/45407 and UK Steam has also been updated so definitely no Red Jubilee. It the weathers OK it might be worth a slog up the M6 for this one.

 

Yetis love snow and wild open places.

 

One thing Spamcan didnt explain, the russian yeti hunters guild are holding their annual Yeti bash at the same time

 

Back on thread, wonder if 46233 was invited to sub this weekend in lieu of possibly missing its turn on the 6th?

 

Not easy for them to put a support crew together at short notice as they are scattered far and wide