Flying Scotsman

Being built in Doncaster it's not even Scottish, so should just be Person.

 

But it's not a person, the nameplate should read "a locomotive".

 

Let's not get onto the indefinite article...

 

But her designer was born in Scotland.

 

Gresley was a Scot?!

 

Yes ! Born in Edinburgh hence Haymarket's fondness for both the man and his machines.

Note from Wikipaedia -

Gresley was born in Edinburgh (on 19 June 1876) during his mother's visit there to see a gynaecologist,[2] but was raised in Netherseal, Derbyshire, a member of the cadet branch of a family long seated at Gresley, Derbyshire.

 

Arguably a Patriot as he would have been a Baby Scot at the time.

 

Taxi for Mr Bowskill!

Tom

 

That is exactly how the 'Better Half''s uncle referred to Flying Scotsman. He said he was far happier on the footplate of a 'Tiny' (his nickname for a GCR Robinson 2-8-0.)

 

A slight difference in speed between the two one would imagine.

 

Apparently 'Flying Scotsman' will feature in the new Thomas and Friends special 'The Great Race', which is due out in the Autumn. It'll be in LNER Green with the smoke deflectors and second tender.

 

Are you underlining such locos in your spotters book with a different colour then?

 

With this argument it's fortunate that they didn't preserve Gay Crusader.

 

Not really - in connection with something else, I happened to note that a little blue engine I'm familiar with had achieved that feat in preservation, and I wondered if it was in fact unique. Not unique, as it turns out, but not common either.

I think it is something to be celebrated that, fifty odd years after the demise of mainline steam, the skills, enthusiasm and resources can still be summoned to keep such machines running. Even more so for locos that have done a significant stint in preservation - the small blue engine that sparked off my train of thought is just starting its fortieth operational season in preservation.

Tom

 

I'm thankful that my native tongue is the international language of English. I only have to learn two phrases in any foreign language
1 do you speak English?
And if the answer is no
2 can you please find someone who does

 

Or even Call Boy. Were they ever seen on shed together?

 

Tender looks almost there - late BR crest applied.

 

In a line in front of Wandering Willie.

 

So why isn't there a clamour to commemorate these names of Gresley locomotives on the statue?

 

It was Reid's Willie.