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Flying Scotsman

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by 73129, Aug 24, 2010.

  1. W.Williams

    W.Williams Well-Known Member

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    You need not name and shame, but perhaps you may enlighten us as to why they walked away?

    Even if someone else gets the main contract for running, If im understanding this correctly, are they contractually obliged to do the upkeep, or can they sub-con that to the current Engineers keeping her in more than fine fettle...?
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2017
  2. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Because re-tendering is at the core of how public sector organisations demonstrate both that they are obtaining value for the taxpayer; and that they are free from corruption (i.e. avoiding any suggestion of "jobs for the boys").

    Do the counter-factual: suppose the last two years had been a complete horlicks - would you be happy if the NRM just announced "we're renewing this contract"? People would be up in arms. But if you have procurement rules that say that contracts have to be periodically re-let, you can't pick and choose when you apply those rules. Of course, as incumbent with a good track record, Riley and co should have a strong advantage, but it is still right to test the market.

    Tom
     
  3. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    If I knew, I could but I wouldn't, even if I did.
     
  4. W.Williams

    W.Williams Well-Known Member

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  5. 30567

    30567 Part of the furniture Friend

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    And if Rileys want to try to persuade the NRM to tweak the contract in various ways -- for example, the agreed regime for whatever heavy maintenance is required--they can put in a compliant and a non-compliant bid. If you are in a strong market position and have a knowledge advantage that can be a good strategy for both parties depending what you think of the contract spec.

    In the bits of the public procurement business I know about, everything over £5k has to be tendered -- and no that is not EU rules it is British Government. Much gnashing of teeth but this contract for FS will be a big one.
     
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  6. 35B

    35B Nat Pres stalwart

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    Just a clarification. It is not that contracts have to be relet after an interval, but how they must be relet when they expire (I don't believe that they are allowed to be open ended). If the original contract was for x years, then the public procurement rules apply.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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  7. Johann Marsbar

    Johann Marsbar Well-Known Member

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  8. Jimc

    Jimc Part of the furniture

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    So, which was the assisting locomotive?
     
  9. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    According to the WSR thread, variously a Manor and a class 33.

    Tom
     
  10. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    6960 has also helped out (not my video):
     
  11. S.A.C. Martin

    S.A.C. Martin Part of the furniture

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    No end of tribalism in railway preservation in sight then!

    Gresley - and in fact most Pacifics generally - have quite a low factor of adhesion compared to a 4-6-0, so it's not surprisingly that FS, unable to utilise her full steaming capability through sheer speed alone, has come unstuck on a lower speed limit railway. Momentum is key!

    Kudos to the Hall for assisting mind. That bark is always impressive to hear.
     
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  12. andrewshimmin

    andrewshimmin Well-Known Member

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    Are you saying that possibly an Pacific is not the ideal loco for a rural branch line?!?!! That's fighting talk on NP....
    Surely though an A1/A3 had to lift heavy trains out of KX at lower speeds without slipping, so they should be able to cope?
     
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  13. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Can be done though without ... If you watch this video from 12'00" onwards, you'll see FS get away from a dead stop straight up a 1 in 75 (steepening to 1 in 55) with no slip, no banker and no problem. Load was just over 280 tons tare, probably somewhere around 310 - 320 gross (I know - I was firing...)



    Tom
     
  14. S.A.C. Martin

    S.A.C. Martin Part of the furniture

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    Now now. I didn't say that. More that circumstances can work against us :)

    You KNOW I love my Gresley Pacifics, but they're not infallible any more than I am...!
     
  15. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    7820 Dinmore Manor on holiday from the GWSR.
     
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  16. maddog

    maddog New Member

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    It's like seeing a sports car getting stuck in a muddy field and having to be rescued by a 4x4. It's horses for courses, but there is some delight in seeing it happen...
     
  17. BrightonBaltic

    BrightonBaltic Member

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    @Jamessquared has rather demonstrated that there is no problem with running a Pacific at low speeds on a preserved line, even with a quite decent load. It rather suggests that he and his driver had a better idea how to handle it than the WSR guys...
     
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  18. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    6960 in the BBC video.
     
  19. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    It is evidently more difficult than with a machine more appropriate to the task. Hopefully we can avoid discussions of the "my team is better than your team" sort.

    PH
     
  20. BrightonBaltic

    BrightonBaltic Member

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    @paulhitch sure, a Pacific isn't the absolute ideal large-preserved-line locomotive (one might suggest that something like a Stanier 8F is)... but Flying Moneypit coped perfectly competently at the Bluebell in the hands of a crew that evidently knew what they were doing...
     

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