The Great Britain X - 29/04/17 to 07/05/17

Day 1, with 60103 'Flying Scotsman' at the helm, seen at Sandy and Peterborough Mayors Walk Bridge. Also, a bonus opening shot of The A3 from Thursday, on it's York to Southall positioning move.

 

My picture of Flying Scotsman hauling the GB X passing Bullpit Lane crossing Balderton earlier today. The steam aroma as she passed bought back memories of train spotting at this location in early 1950's.

 

'Flying Scotsman' on Day 1 of "The Great Britain X" seen at Sandy and Peterborough, with an additional shot at Sandy during a positioning move prior to the tour

 

I suspect the writings of First Class Partnerships about accusations of steam loco owners and operators being heroic in their use of locos to "save the day" and cover for unavailable locos leading to the loco in question being flogged; are influencing decisions by NRM.

Of course FS (and many others) are maintained far better now than FS used to be.......

 

Plus the issue of a support crew. Those who had been with her since Southall will already have been on duty for several hours.

 

Presumably still sitting at Heaton North Junction waiting path? Any clues as to whether this will need to be the case all the way or whether any of the scheduled pathing/water stops will be dropped (we are very close to the ECML near Edinburgh, so would still like to see it go through!)

Steven

 

A truly shambolic morning for chasing. Hey ho, one of those things!

My one and only shot from today (it really was *THAT* bad!), taken near Biggleswade. As is always the way, the sun was out all the time I was there, then not 10 minutes before Scotsman came bursting into view, the sun went in... had I known, I'd have gone the other side, where you can get a full side on shot without cutting half of the wheels off!



James

 

Timings for Tuesday now on RTT: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53903/2017/05/02/advanced

A really late start from Inverness!

 

Worthy of the great George Heiron

Dave

 

Thanks Dave!

James

 

Some really great pictures and videos of Scotsman Flying along the ECML today. It fills me with joy to see her being handled so well on her home territory. A shame about the failure of No.9. So close to having the trio of A1, A3 and A4 at work on former home ground.

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Just because it took half a day to get from kings cross to York doesn't mean the support crew have done half a day! They were no doubt up at silly o'clock in the morning getting the engine ready for the day. And then still had to put the engine to bed after the trip had left for Edinburgh.


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Just out of interest who provide the support crew for FS are they volunteers or NRM staff as if they are paid staff wouldn't that introduce a whole new tier of issues regarding working hours etc?

Setting aside the fact that I would imagine that NR rules probably are not keen on people who have done 12+ hours wandering around on the big railway.

 

Would presume substantive employers are the Science Museum Group or R&S (E) Ltd but that in such circumstances they are also bound by the SMS of the TOC which will presumably contain it's own rules on working times. May also be overarching ROGS/RSSB rules too? Potentially complicated!