The Great Britain XII - April/May 2019

To be honest I wouldn't wish to deny the well behaved majority of the public the opportunity to see 60103, especially now it's in public hands rather than private. But I think the media attention around the engine drives the 'mania', people aren't so bothered about taking time out of their day to see any other locos.

 

Well done Liam in making a point but sadly on NP some folk are blinkered to it being a problem !

 

Yup - Enthusiast Blinkers™.

If some individual gets converted into Pedigree Chum by getting hit by a proper train at speed, a ban for 60103 I would say is a given; and perhaps all steam too.

 

Are they full length deflectors/blinkers or is now not the time for a “Witte” response?

 

I agree Steve but don't forget a few years ago someone from the lower end of Cumbria accused a fellow forumite on here of trespassing and went over the top with it but nothing happened

 

On a more serious note I’m torn between the amount of exposure and good publicity (that can only be good for the general steam movement) that Scotsman generates as opposed to the bad side of mindless trespass by individuals spoiling it for the masses. You would argue that something needs to be done but what and how is quite another matter.

 

True but there must’ve been a good reason for the discussion even if nothing ever happened . My opinion only by the way

 

I had a word with the prat when we got back to the bridge as I followed him out of the field. He seemed very relaxed about it, even after I told him he was 'thick as pigs muck' ! I reminded him about the delay's to other services and that BTP are on the way and he soon got in his car. The old man was ready for a ruck, but I was out of breath and told him to leave it lol !

 

A muzzling of the railway press, especially on FB !

 

You can’t win Liam as I took a still of a chap at Scout Green while I was waiting for 70013 years back as he stood next to the four foot but the said guys picture was still printed on the front of Steam Railway magazine but I didn’t get anywhere with BTP or NP

 

It happened just look back .Same person banned for life from another forum for same thing Steve

 

Did you get car reg Liam?

 

Anyone know how serious the problem with Scotsman was?

 

How will we see it then Steve lol

 

If I'm honest Steve, I hope it does. Very sad to be reading all these posts of trespass and really hope GBXII is remembered for the right reasons. That's not aimed at your posts btw, just the fact of what has happened today is a great shame.

 

Glass half full on this. Yes, the publicity overload meant those less attuned to the dangers of railways were setting up deckchairs in the cess (apparently!), and has regardless cost me £84.50 in advance tickets and (luckily) a night in London on my mate's sofa, but at least I ticked off all of the track I needed!

On a more serious note, I await the fallout with interest. It really was a toxic cocktail of excessive media attention and a Bank Holiday weekend.

 

Baffles me Ian,the word discipline seems to be missing from their vocabulary

 

Well, a personal ambition of mine that has been around for a while was finally fulfilled this year, and that was to go on the GB. Just got back from what has easily been the best six days railtouring I’ve ever had! Really wished I could’ve done the whole lot but there was a hell of a lot of consolation in the variety of days 3-9!

I’ve really been hard pressed to find a highlight but travelling the Ayr-Stranraer road in some glorious weather, 6233 cresting Llanvihangel at a stunning 48mph, 60103 raising the echoes out of Sheffield (nice to include Dronfield as the route), an A4 and Black Five onslaught of Shap and Beattock and No.9 on home turf to Aberdeen made this GB a particularly memorable one! Such a sad ending from the actions of some mindless morons today, I hope they’re all proud of themselves!

The company throughout has been excellent; coach G has been the place to be! Great to see a whole hoard of ‘NatPressers’ too, both the familiar faces and the new. Special thanks must go to Mandy who has done an amazing job looking after us with some brilliant food and drink, it really was appreciated!

Finally, a huge thanks to Kelly, RTC stewards, WCRC footplate crews, guards and staff, all the support crews, the Gravy Train crew and Network Rail for executing this marathon and in the usual professional manner. Nigel Dobbing would be proud!