Flying Scotsman

I don’t think that your statement about Ian Riley’s team crewing the loco is correct. It’s the norm on any railway for that railways qualified people to drive and fire with the Rep on the footplate. That will be the case with Northern Steam, who have qualified steam crew.

 

It’s not true that, in the previous contract, “Riley’s team” would drive and fire the loco on heritage railways - at least not in our case. On both occasions FS visited, driving and firing was done by Bluebell crews, with an owner’s rep on the footplate to offer advice. I can’t see why it would be different in the new contract.

I’d say that is fairly standard for any visiting loco - the home crews drive and fire, but there is advice and support from the owner’s rep.

Tom

 

Was the same at the NVR. They provided the crews with an owner’s rep overseeing things.

 

I have no active involvement in heritage rail, so apologies if this is an obvious question, but is that because the differences between different locomotives are less consequential than the differences between lines? As in, knowing the line, the signals and hazards (eg level crossings) is a greater safety concern than differences in regulator sensitivity and the best firing technique.

 

There isn't a training programme for individual steam engines, unlike diesels: if you can drive one you can drive them all. But you're quite right that route knowledge - knowing the road - is essential.

 

Did I image Scotsman being in photos at Locomotion when the event was going on over the weekend as this suggests that she is still at the NRM? https://www.facebook.com/groups/310242815713664/permalink/31421546374156568/

 

Flying Scotsman was definitely outside the NRM on Friday afternoon

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It got moved back south last Monday by a pair of Rail Adventure power cars.

 

Here is said move, passing Benningborough.

Was it going to the NRM's 50th birthday party? - not a bit of it!. It sat cold and lifeless out of sight in the North Yard and no one knew it was there. What a travesty for a once iconic locomotive.

Peter

 

I was at NRM last Saturday and my mate spoke to a member of staff at the Museum, apparently they had planned that people could view it and they were gonna make a path out to see the loco in the yard but there wasn't time. Or so my mate heard, I found out second hand. Still a shame they couldn't have put it in the Great Hall or something given the occasion.

 

Just seen this one and must comment that after the Durham incident, NELPG instigated a training course for all crew before they drove Blue Peter, I think most of the mainline drivers took it. I wonder if the course still applies in 2025?

 

Not an icon any more. Paint it BR sludge and it just looks like any other BR sludge

 

Sorry to disagree but I think that there is a lot more to it than the colour it is painted in.

Peter

 

There wasn't time? They've had 25 years since the last event to think about it!

 

I'm A bit bemused, You would have thought that Flying Scotsman would have been given pride of place, on the turntable, or somewhere on site, close to where the attractions were, Either the organisers were not that interested in what should be the NRM.s biggest asset, or the Museum, have lost interest in the loco, their minds taken on other things, such as play areas, merching, or did someone not arrange the transfer of the loco, back to the NRM, in enough time to ensure it could be readied, cleaned and shunted so that it would be included ?

 

I completely agree I was thinking weekend of Railway 200 and the 50th anniversary of the National Railway Museum, Flying Scotsman was sure to be out on display pride of place but no. Real shame, the general public love that loco and I did see some disappointed faces when people discovered it was hidden outside at NRM over the weekend.

 

Should have moved it back to Shildon, until they decide how to operate it in a mainline capacity, rather than a preserved lines only way.

 

Was there not a clause in the custodian agreement, that the new custodians had agreements in place whereby the engine was expected to operate a number of tours each year on the mainline? and that an mainline TOC would faciliate it, As I see it, the engine should have stayed under Riley's custodianship, or moved to IOS, and been operated by them, its certainly strange that Northern Steam, were awarded the contract, but had no mainline partner with the requires safety case to operate the engine on the mainline, nor it would seem anyone willing to accept them as partners. as both West Coast, and LSL refused to operate it with Northern Steam.

 

The whole situation is just disappointing. Flying Scotsman is very marketable, people enjoy seeing it. Having it on railtours isn't just good for the operators with the money they'll make. It's good ambassador for promoting mainline steam, when people hear Flying Scotsman is passing their local station, a lot of the town will show up to see it. If anything Flying Scotsman should be leading the way with mainline trips, should be one of the most consistent one out on the mainline and be the most advanced in technology to allow it to run near to everywhere on the network within reason. I like Flying Scotsman, true I have mainline locos I love way more but I am not what's important here, what's important is keeping steam alive. Flying Scotsman is a big driving force in doing this. The fact it can't do mainline trips anymore is not only disappointing for us on this forum but the general public, that is the worst thing. I really hope within time something can be worked out so it can pull mainline trains again.

 

It's disappointing, but we don't know what was in the contract - or why others won't engage.