Flying Scotsman

The full story can be read in this very thread, two very lengthy and public independent reports, and in most of the railway mags on a monthly basis. We'll never know the full and exact ins and outs...but it's a fool who does not learn from past history to improve the future. I welcome the NRM's choice of contractor and look forward to 4472 steaming at last. It's been a long time coming, and no doubt the best is yet to come.

Still hoping for an all apple green line up of Scotsman, Tornado and Blue Peter...and perhaps even no.2007...

 

You could add 4488 Union of South Africa in LNER Green - which would be fascinating to see.

Tobbes

 

Don't forget Mayflower, Morayshire & The Great Marquess

 

I certainly don't wish to stir the pot, but this would seem the best place to ask.

How on earth did the NRM mess up the restoration as much as it did? Its the national railway museum, if anyone has experience with locomotives you would think it would be them. Its not like they were a few blokes in a shed working on the back of a beer mat, its a nationally funded museum.

I've only ever worked on miniature locomotives, but checking frames for cracks/distortion, cylinder bore size, and cylinder alignment, seem such obvious things to check as part of the restoration process. Maybe I am lucky to have had good tuition in the subject, but I cannot see why the locomotive has suffered so many obvious problems.

 

Given the NRM's financial restraints is there now a hope in hell that Duchess of Hamilton will steam again, given that turning it into 'The Bathtub' cost hundreds of thousands of £££ ?

Dave

 

There is a world of difference from restoring an otherwise in good condition engine to workable condition,than in rebuilding 4472, which was by the time it was withdrawn for overhall completly worn out i think that York didnt have the skills, or the project management in place at the time to tackle it in house

 

I thought the NRM had made the situation quite clear in that they have no current plans to return Duchess of Hamilton or any other locomotive to steam without external funding. As the NRM keep saying, they will consider any realistic funded proposal to return to steam any locomotive in the collection. This presumably including Duchess of Hamilton.

Although not as up to date as some with steam matters I understand National Collection 30587 and 44027 are currently being returned to steam thanks to external funding along with possibly Austerity 0-6-oST HE3183/1944 although the current status of the latter is far from clear.

 

Does the answer not lie within the their title? National Railway MUSEUM ???

 

No, he didn't, but he did eventually partner up with Pete Waterman, who has also commented in the past on how expensive it all became. I think that messrs McAlpine & Waterman were fortunate that the late Tony Marchington came along when he did.

Wasn't it Ian Riley who remarked that the way to get to a small fortune from owning/operating main line steam was to start with a large fortune?

 

Essential reading for anyone who wants background 'from the horses mouth' is the October 2012 report from the NRM (google flying scotsman restoration update) and their statement quoted in Heritage Railway this week (visible via their thread on NR).
NRM clearly state and accept what's gone wrong and now with a contract with Ian Riley for restoration and 2 years of operation being monitored by professional contract management they seem to be going down the right (albeit expensive) path - there appears to be a proviso to stop further restoration if the frames prove to be a serious problem after removal of cylinders.[/quote]

 

If you recall there was talk of closure of some of the museums in the group a while back, maybe that was misinformation or scaremongering in order to ensure the Department wouldn't cut budgets too much, but as far as I know there will be budget cuts.

Dave

 

From the thread "What should the NRM restore next ".

 

Yes I think Ian has remarked along those lines but it is quite widely accepted. Very prescient in the context of having to acquire new premises for a loco works in order to continue the heritage railway related business. Philanthropy of one form or another is nearly always required to underwrite the continued operation of steam locos whether through public funds, charitable support or wealthy benefactors.

 

But remember that its designer was a Crewe Premium apprentice after which he served the L&Y R including spells as a shedmaster at Blackpool depot; that would make it a case of the loco returning to its spiritual home [i.e. on the right side of the Pennines]

 

Last time I looked, Crewe was to the left of the Pennines.

I'll get me coat.

 

Surely the "right side" of the Pennines is neither "left" nor "right" but "a long way below" - preferably well south of the Thames...

Tom