Cath Ex - Flying Scotsman - 21/05/16

Some photos & videos from my local paper website.
At around 2m you can just hear the pea whistle as it leaves Reading.
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/watch-your-videos-pictures-flying-11371369

Compare that with 34052's whistle on the video's of it!

 

I wonder if Dr Jos ( @JJG Koopmans ) could sort out the "draughting" of FS's whistle? ;-)

 

Is it confirmed that there are two trips through the Surrey hills on both 25 May and 1 June? UKS refers to the daytime run to Norwich on 25 May as being cancelled with no mention of alternative arrangements, and the Bicester trip as simply "fully booked" (but not revised) on 1 June. If there are these four plus Tornado's Belmond Pullman run on 27 May, it's going to be quite a steam fest on the route over those few days!

 

And there you have it. A whistle, just like a diesel horn, is designed to warn trackworkers, passengers on platforms, trespassers (!!!) to stand clear of the approaching train. When I filmed FS flying through Twyford on Saturday morning, the whistle could not be heard on approach to a very busy platform although it is clear it did so. It really does need to be sorted otherwise you know what will happen......someone will fail its fitness to run exam!

 

Here is the heart of the absolute stupidity of this timing thing. At Addlestone is the SLS Library and we have a scheduled members only opening session on Wednesday afternoon. Whether our staff and visitors will be able to get anywhere near the library is anyone's guess as the library building is right next to a footbridge over the line. How the beep beep am I supposed to inform our members by twitter/facebook etc (which includes myself this week) when we have no official idea of when the crowds will have dissipated from watching the FS tour go past. Or even if FS is going to be going past! I don't want to waste my time driving up and then find after 3 hours in the car that I can't get near the industrial estate to visit the library. Madness.

 

Yes go to the SD website and click on Flying Scotsmen returns to the mainline.

Additional info also refer to flyingscotsman.org.uk

 

Bring it on. I have even got the wife interested in going out to see an evening run

 

I'm becoming increasingly exasperated about this, why has nothing been done? It's clearly not right and if anything needs an effective warning device for people on or about the track it's Flying Scotsman. It beggars belief.

 

Better make it an early part of the run then, as it'll be dark by about halfway round. I live at Betchworth and it's going to have to be a panned still photo under the bright orange floodlights of the level crossing there! I'm surprised that UKS is so out of date on these runs.

 

Even when it was running in on the ELR the class 31 accompanying it was using its horn to supplement the useless whistle.

 

It will be West Byfleet, a 10 minute walk from home, and a 60 minute return via the pub.......

 

Btw I see the staff at Paddington got into the spirit, one in particular - I'm guessing a top hat and gloves are not standard with the new uniform...!

13m 28sec

 

When we were building Tornado the powers that be were concerned that the standard LNER design whistle would not give sufficient warning. They wanted an air horn fitted. Fortunately we were able to persuade them that the chime whistle (ex 60023) was an adequate substitute for the air horn - thank goodness!
The LNER whistle on Tornado has always been adequate as far as I know and, indeed, some drivers won't use the chime.
Something does need to be done with Flying Scotsman's whistle - maybe clean it with some "Oust".

 

Network Rail have now admitted that their plan to hide the timings of "Flying Scotsman" has been a complete failure so a decision has been made to run all tours in disguise for the immediate future.



The upside is no blinkers......................yeah!

 

Its the wrong shade of green

 

Is this the solution lol

 

Brilliant timing

 

What's the route on the 28th

 

And then they could say she never even left the "shed"

 

I know the one you are referring to. Yes he did disappear as did the other 3 (male and 2 young kids) on the down side across the fields. The problem experienced is that the number of officers and railway staff is too thin to cover the entire area that the tour ran. I can quote at least two other locations where the police did apprehend trespassers and their details taken for follow up.

As I have said already. The railway industry relied heavily on goodwill to man crossings and stations for this run. I know of one person who is not willing to do it again and I cannot blame him. If these volunteers fall by the wayside, the cost to bring staff in will be astronomical.

No I don't want to see steam banned from the mainline, far from it however I can see it being put at jeopardy by the minority who cannot obey simple rules.