Flying Scotsman

Jamie: " original": As you imply, what exactly does it mean in the context of an aged steam locomotive that through its working life went through many overhauls, and inevitably some parts, notably boilers, were interchanged.

As I said, I dont want to go there. Just pleased that it is at long last being properly fettled by Ian's team.

By heck though, once it gets back into regular service, it really is going to have to earn its keep, given what it has cost the NRM. In fact, much credit to the NRM for persisting with getting it right. They could easily have given up and had it on static display. Goodness knows what the final bill will be.

 

Little nugget from Railway Herald. A main line test run is provisionally pencilled in from Bury to York on 31st May.

 

Flying Scotsman steaming dates announced

The National Railway Museum has announced provisional steaming and main line test run dates for Flying Scotsman.
Full details are now online at The complete steam news magazine Heritage Railway Magazine

 

More info on the Heritage Railway website:
Flying Scotsman: steaming dates named - Heritage Railway Magazine

Richard

 

The fact that she will still be in wartime black is most excellent news!

Black A3

Brunswick green A1

Garter blue A4's

Apple green A2

NICE!!!!!

Will certainly make for a much better photo line up

 

Ah, excellent, I should be able to get some good shots of it at York then.

 

Garter Blue A4's ?

Only one is Garter Blue the other is BR Blue

 

Erm - try Mallard AND Bittern - both of which will be at the Fab four event at Barrow Hill! :tongue:

 

Of course, memory goes when you get to my age!

 

I'm getting really suspicious by seeing the latest pictures of Flying Soctsmans overhaul at the NRM website.

The amount of work and kind of work done to complete the locomotives overhaul since her unveiling last year is outrageous. I can't help thinking of Flying Scotsman got seriously damaged while she was transfered from York to Bury.

If it appears there are "just" some cracks in the hornguides, why do you have to machine all (!!) axle journals, remetal all (!!) axle boxes, replace an axle box (!!), remetal Cartazzi bearings (!!), replacement of nearly every (!!) frame stretcher and motion bracket you'll find between Flying Scotsmans two frameplates, fabricate a brand new bogie stretcher (!!) and production of a new big end strap (!!). Much of the work done to bearings, motion and wheels are done twice by now, which means they did it wrong first time or the work done got seriously damaged.

I am just someone from The Netherlands who's very intrested in the British preservation scene and can't imagine Flying Scotsman received a 'clean' overhaul. There are to much signs that proves the opposite. :-(

Regards,
Vincent

 

Isnt all that matters is that the defects are being sorted out, how they got there im sure will come out one day, but its not important right now, what is is that she is 100 per cent right when it comes to the test runs 4472 was a basket case when the NRM purchased it it would have been cheeper to have thrown in the towel and just done a cosmetic on her , im glad that they didnt, its been a long time, yes and has been long overdue , and cost a lot more, but you cant really blame york for that, the engine was totally sh*gged wasnt it? but now everything is being done correctly , and hopefully once 4472 is back it should be trouble free for quite a long time

 

How much of the loco will be original when it come's out of Bury ?? (bring backGreen Arrow)

 

No it isn't. A lot of money has been spent on this overhaul and it's only right that it's all accounted for and the reasons made clear why such expenditure is necessary. The engine isn't owned by a private individual but by a national museum where accounts should be transparent.

 

I agree with you Neil. In the case of 4472, transparency is very important. It has to be remembered that thousands of people gave money to purchase and overhaul Scotsman.

 

According to the reports, there is an internal NRM inquiry looking into the restoration project. Whether any of this is published is up to the NRM, but care needs to be taken about pointing fingers based on photos or magazine articles. There are a number of commercial organisations involved in this restoration including Rileys, hauliers, and other suppliers who may not take very kindly to accusations being thrown at them from NatPres.

Richard

 

I am puzzled by your post as a reply to mine. Should it not have been aimed at a previous poster?

 

It is possible that the amount of work that turned out to be required by the engine was not suspected. It appears that the level of fatigue cracking found is only just starting to become common and that at the time of the original assessment there could have been a lack of awareness of the problems that were just starting to surface. We all know that frame plates crack, cylinders can fail, boilers become very heavily deteriorated, but how many knew that cast steel components were starting to be a major cause for concern?

The fact that this is being exposed on an engine with a better chance of attracting funding than any other must be seen as a good thing. All other locomotive owners, individuals or groups, can benefit from this.

 

Sorry for the confusion, I was covering two things in the same post and not doing it very well! hwell:

I was suggesting that we may not get a completely "transparent" public explanation from the NRM due to the commercial and contractual situation. The NRM has realised that it hasn't come out of this very well, and has had to dig a lot deeper into its piggy bank to get the job done. It won't want a repeat of this in future restoration projects.

The second point about throwing accusations around was certainly aimed at earlier posts.

<Note to self: re-read your posts before hitting the "Post" button! :doh: >

 

Yes It appears 4472 is finally coming together but the cost has been downright outrageous. For the money that has been spent, 2 or 3 locos in the national collection could have been up and running by now, whether on the main line or not. Im sure the NRM publicly will be all smiles when the 4-6-0 hits the main line, but i suspect secretly, like bressingham with royal scot they'll be wishing they'd never touched the thing.

 

4-6-0? Strewth, they've had to scrap the trailing truck to save money?!