Flying Scotsman

I think this is all a secret plot...

The NRM is building a replica Scotsman... One part at a time.

Next April we'll see the launch of 447mk2 Flying Scotsman next to 4471.999 Failed Scotsman to be donated to the newly independant country.

 

Some more info went up on Ian Riley's 'The Works' forum last week.


Chris

 

A link or summary might be nice.

 

It was only the NRM press release, which has already been posted on here.

 

Sorry, was rushing.

To Summarise;

More broken than previously thought, more remedial work required.

Chris

 

Some more pics went up of the work done on the cylinders slide bars and motion brackets....

 

These ones?
http://www.flyingscotsman.org.uk/flyingscotsman/see/photos

Richard

 

Thanks for the link , yes

 

I'm so Glad Riley and sons are pulling out all the stops for 4472 so that she can be at her best when she returns to steam.

 

Now that somebody pointed out the regular use of the word 'iconic' I can't not notice it in every press release! Still, looks like Riley's and NRM are doing a great job on it, iconic or not...

 

I reserve comment on the 'inconicity' of this particular machine. Regardless, I am sure it will be good once finished, and then the really important issue of colour will dominate the headlines...

 

And yet a tribute to the over engineered simplicity of the beloved steam loco that inspite of this it still passed ftr's , hauled trains, etc..
Do you think that if 4472's full condition had been realised by the NRM at the outset she would have been Plinthed , and if so would someone be building an A3 now instead of a P2? or better still you could call the plinthed one Salmon Trout and call the new one Flying Scotsman by virtue of a frame extension or connecting rod....

 

Agreed, someone, Marchington I believe. has a LOT to answer for........................ and then you have those who "put the value" on the loco during "the" inspection for valuation purposes of disposal, who didn't so much as inspect, but went "Yeah, that's Scotman"........ but we're turning over old ground, time to move on and let Riley & Co. bring the beauty back to her as built best!

I reckon Sir Nige can stop turning in his grave now.

 

The rot set in but where and when it all began who knows?

Ian Riley and his team have uncovered so many issues that could go back for decades. It begs the question as to when, in the past, the engine last received the quality of attention that it deserved? The whole sad saga does indeed make you aware of how the steam locomotive can continue in service even when not in the best of condition. Actually, it really does drive the question as to when the engine was last in the very best of mechanical condition?

The performance of 4472 has been criticised in the past, and perhaps rightly on occasion, but the sorry state of the machine,as has been revealed over the past few years, makes it a wonder that it ever performed quite so well as it did.

Was all that was done under the ownership of Tony Marchington bad? How much of the work now being done existed, unlooked for and undiscovered, before his era of custodianship? We have people and facilities that were not available in the early years of preservation. What did Vickers miss? Or Southall? Or anywhere else that was used as an overhaul base post BR? And in those last days of steam what did BR miss?

One thing learned from this overhaul is that we need to take more time and be far more thorough with our charges. Anything that could possibly go wrong just might have done, so be aware.

It shouldn't be too long now before Sir Nigel (and all the rest) can stop turning.

 

Those comments make me think of what we now know about why Tangmere's crosshead fell apart. Those involved in its restoration were surely acting in good faith and yet got that bit wrong.

 

I seem to recall Tony Marchington saying that he'd spent £1M on 4472's overhaul (late 90s?). If that figure is accurate, then I would sincerely hope that ALL issues with the loco would have been known about and rectified.


Keith

 

We may never know the effects of the different ownership regime but IMO the biggest mistake made was the boring out of the cylinders to make the TE 40,000+.