Flying Scotsman

It probably is original, as some whistles, Stanier hooter included (from a distance), are fairly useless. 60163 has a pretty useless second whistle which to my ears is similar to 60103s.

 

I have just seen BBC Look North report from NYMR, sounds like someone has swopped the whistle!

 

I find myself at work today looking up the times for the Severn Valley event, the cab it event at York, and spending so much time looking online for news on the engine. Truly, I had forgot how much I love this icon of steam. That it's back in our lives and running again is something special. It's like welcoming back an old friend into your life who you've not seen for years, stirring the soul and reminding you of past times spent together.

I think I will spend 2016 doing a lot more of the things I enjoy, like following Scotsman, Tornado, and steam railways in general, than I have done the last few years whilst I've been working and writing. Life's too damn short to worry about the finer details now.

 

I agree. I'm looking at going up Easter Weekend for the Stunts, Speed and Style event. Quite looking forward to the Starring Scotsman Exhibition as it looks like is has some interesting items from Scotsman's history.

 

Slightly off topic but does anyone know the date that Flying Scotsman last ran with two tenders? I'm guessing sometime in the late 1970s but would be interesting to know when the second one was retired….

 

Hi southall railway depot only coupled to loco and run round the yard for testing purposes. FISH7373 81C NFP

 

I have a very hazy memory of seeing the second tender painted blue/grey tucked up near Galatea at Carnforth, which probably would have been late 70s/early 80s. That might be the drugs talking mind…

Simon

 

Somewhere I've got a shot of 4472 light engine near Princes Risborough with both tenders in tow but the second one in BR blue and grey. I'm struggling to recall seeing that combo on a rail tour though.

 

Definitely had two tenders in the 1960s. This was the 'Moorlander' at Carlisle, 20/10/68. Apologies for the awful photo!

 

Here's a better one

 

Yep, can't argue with that!

 

I think it ran with two tenders up to and including the ill-fated American trip in the 70's. When it returned and was overhauled under Sir William McAlpine's ownership it went to the Paignton & Dartmouth railway and ran there with just the one tender.

I think it subsequently went main line and mostly ran with just the one tender, but by this stage the second one had been repainted to grey and blue.It ran with that one occaisonally on longer runs, I presume.

This is all off the top of my head, so I stand to be corrected!

 

All pretty much spot on. The second tender was later sold to the A1 Steam trust, who made a start on restoring the frames but then later sold it to Bittern's owner, Jeremy Hosking, who had the tender restored in its own right as a water carrier with a brand new tank (increasing its capacity I seem to recall) and the tender has been seen behind Bittern on a few occasions in both BR dark green and the LNER garter blue most recently.

 

Two tenders? Pfft! Real engines have six...



Tom

 

It isn't wrong, but we just don't do it!

 

Thought they struggled setting up the 2nd tenders braking system to accommodate the differing weight, as the water load decreased.

Cant remember it being used very much with Bittern..

 

Bluebell Railway gala?

 

There were a few tours where Bittern had the second tender but not many (I was on one of them back in 2010). Most of the trips with it were when Bittern became 4492 but after regaining its original identity I don't think the tender was used again.

I was always under the impression that the A1 Trust sold the tender to Tony Marchington for use eventual use behind Bittern when he owned it and that it was sold with the loco when Jeremy Hosking acquired the loco.

 

Hence the use of the term "a few times" implying not often.

That may be correct, I was working from memory earlier.

 

The brakes were working spot on and nothing wrong with the brakes worked all ok and did go with Bittern. FISH7373 81C NFP