Flying Scotsman

And for that we should all be grateful

 

"The Frying Scotsman"?!

Richard.

 

I'd be gutted if that really is the case, as its been in BR green livery for years now, and I was hoping the NRM would display the engine in various other guises to display all the different periods of its working life.

Certainly with its centenary coming up, 4472 deserves a fresh coat of paint for this big milestone, and there's no disputing the fact that it's classic apple green livery is the most iconic of the lot.

Honestly it frustrates me at times as to why so many insist on their engines be in there BR guises, as though the engine's history began and ended with British Railways.

Admittedly it does feel like we are starting to see more people moving away from the domination of BR guises, but I was hoping the NRM of all organisations would be more open to showing Flying Scotsman in more then just one livery.

Apologies for rant, was just hoping for some more variety in how Flying Scotsman is presented.

 

16th August 2005, on return to York, after a trip to Scarborough.

 

16th August 2005, arriving into York, ready for a trip to Scarborough for Fish n Chips

 

It is somewhat disheartening to hear this. The centenary comes around just once. Flying Scotsman has achieved all of her milestones in her working life in L.N.E.R. guise, not British Railways.

As much as I have enjoyed seeing her as 60103, there are many who clamour for 4472 - and indeed, virtually all of the NRM's Scotsman merchandise is 4472 branded! -is this not missing a trick?

 

For those, like me, who wish to see 4472 in her iconic LNER Apple Green.
4472 'Flying Scotsman' Kings Sutton by KING COBRA 92, on Flickr

 

And me.

Seen here on my visit to what was then known as the Torbay Steam Railway:

 

This is definitely the mental image I associate with ' Flying Scotsman'.
Wonder how strong the trade marking is ? could probably re livery a Hall , put a 'The Flying Scotsman' nameplate on it and fill your train/ sell all your T-shirts everytime...

 

I find it a bit odd and a little disappointing that the A3 is not going back to her 4472 guise to celebrate such a special occasion in the locomotives life time.
I must admit I prefer her in her current BR guise as 60103 because that is how I first experienced the A3 in the 1990's at the Severn Valley (captured at Kidderminster, below) but I was really looking forward to seeing her in single chimney LNER guise as I have never seen the loco in this form. No doubt many others were as well.
I was not a big fan of her "mongrel" guise of LNER livery with the German smoke deflectors when she was running as an A4/A3 hybrid due to "modifications" carried out in the Marchington era.

It sounds very much like there is a funding problem at the NRM for them to decide to keep the A3 as she is.


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One thing that strikes me, is that the "management" at the NRM are flying in the face of evidence. By that I'm mean look at the A1SLT and their periodic repaint in the assorted colour schemes the Peppercorn A1s ran in. "British Railways" Apple Green, experimental Blue and BR Dark Green. OK 'Scotsman didn't run in LNER Apple Green with a double chimney and kylchap exhaust, but Humorist did. So how about 'Scotsman in post war LNER Green and 1946 number with Blue Peter/Tornado style blinkers....... or those pre war wing blinkers with the option of the original single chimney [they could fit it with a single Kylchap exhaust too]

 

Probably all about money. The worst option would have been the Apple Green hybrid.

 

I don't think that funding a repaint is the issue. The idea was to rebuild the smokebox contents - do away with the Kalchap exhaust and fit a single blastpipe and chimney in its place -but this will take both time and engineering resources to complete and I would suggest that neither is available. It does not matter to me what colour it is painted as long as it is a sound, trouble free operational locomotive. Lets enjoy the wealth of treasures that we have in steam preservation rather than constantly bemoan what we haven't got.

Peter

 

This why I've suggested the single chimney version of the Kylchap exhaust. As when you look at Wikipedia [ok I know to take it with a pinch of salt], it shows a sinle as well as the perhaps better known double chimney/exhaust version.

And why is it the worst possible hybrid? As Humorist ran pre-war with the double chimney exhaust arrangement, granted it wasn't until after the war
that they fitted as I've mentioned the Blue Peter/Tornado blinkers.

 

I think John is referring to the Marchington era hybrid A3/A4 loco that was thrashing itself to pieces due to the modifications implemented by her "caretaker" at the time (hybrid guise shown below)


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I was, it represents nothing in the long history of the Gresley A1/A3 Class in service

 

I think that would have still been a fairly expensive modification involving a new casting for the blast pipe

 

Perhaps green five. Though even to those in the know so to speak would find it hard to distinguish the subtle differences between the two boilers unless they were having a close look. It's IIRC to do with the mudhole doors along the upper part of the firebox. They fitted the lower pressure safety valves to the modified A4 boiers, which didn't stop them refitting A4 valves should the boiler be refitted to an A4. Where in lies the issues from the Marchington era, he/they fitted the a4 valves to Scotsman upping the PSI to boot from 220 to 250......

 

You make it sound as if you can just nip into Halfords and buy one off the shelf. It has to be designed, manufactured and fitted within a very limited time frame to a loco with a busy work schedule. Sure it can be done but just not this time. Who knows, mayby next time.

Peter

 

Exactly Peter, Rather too late this go round, but next time perhaps........With a bit of forward planning on the part of the NRM. Which is something the current management seem to lack......