RTC Flying Scotsman/Black 5s to Carlisle 23rd January

Yee of little faith, the guys have done it previously with 54 & 48 so why no difference with FS! I know where my money is lying......

 

The latest Railway Herald 9/12/15:
".... should running in on the ELR not be completed in time, a WCR loco will deputise".

 

That's what was commonly believed. Maybe RH has either new information or the wrong end of the stick.

 

And that is how I understand it?

 

Can't trust anything you read anymore obviously

 

Am I the only person who thinks Flying Scotsman shall be ready in early January?

 

No I am confident, particularly after the BBC coverage yesterday, on North West Tonight (On iPlayer, 9 minutes in), and here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-35063748

I booked early on the first WCME on 23 January,, and am glad I did.

Peter on a winter early morning in Manchester
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/f731739511

PS And if disaster really does befall, who is going to weep over the two Riley fives as a substitute?

 

December 25th first movements in steam?

 

Today's (Tuesday Jan 5) Manchester Evening News report here.

 

RTC have confirmed by email today that this will be via the Settle & Carlisle on the outward leg, departing Manchester at 6.30am, calling at Wigan - instead of Bolton; and Blackburn instead of Preston.
Return obviously via Shap
Great news about FS today, looking good for the 23rd.
Congratulations to Ian Riley and his team - he was briefly interview on one of the video clips.

 

Chapter and verse is here:

With regards to your booking on The Cumbrian Mountain Express on Saturday 23rd January 2016 we are writing to inform you that the tour has been re-routed. Network Rail have applied a late engineering block on the line between Manchester Victoria and Bolton. This means that our tour will now not be able to run through or stop at Bolton.

We have arranged for a stop at Wigan North Western and we are asking passengers who were scheduled to join the train at Bolton, to now join at Wigan North Western instead. The approximate time from Wigan will be 06.50 on the outward and 18.10 on the return.

The routing for this train will now be outwards via the Settle and Carlisle line and returning via Shap, therefore passengers from Preston will be sent service train tickets for the outward journey to join the train at Blackburn.

Please accept our sincere apologies for the any disappointment or inconvenience this re-routing may cause.

The revised approximate timings for the tour are as follows:

Outward Return

Manchester Victoria 06.30 18.35

Wigan North Western 06.50 18.10

Preston 06.40 17.40

Blackburn 07.30 ------

Carlisle 11.15 14.35​

Peter on a cold dark evening in Manchester, but looking forward to seeing Flying Scotsman on the ELR tomorrow
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/f731739511

 

It's certainly going to be busy on the day of the railtour as people will be crowded at the lineside just to see this run, certainly cant wait for this trip as the moment it was announced I booked on straight away alongside 4 of my mates. Was planning to go from Manchester Victoria but because of the tunnel at Farnworth being shut and also the earlier departure from Manchester Vic than the one shown and also earlier than 2015's run im gonna be going from Wigan NW on the tour. Would leave the car in Manchester but I don't take any chances unless im 100% certain nothing will go wrong on the day.

Wouldn't be surprised if both BBC and ITV news will be waiting for her at Carlisle.

 

The British Transport Police are going to have there hands full on the station platforms. Didn't the first test run of Tornado get canned due to safety concerns ? I saw the Mail Online report from Bury Bolton Street, where the public were all on the track and well off the platform end. The station master was trying to shepherd them back to the platform.

 

Scotsman's back - on the ELR 9 January 2016

After being out of traffic for just over ten years, the iconic Gresley Pacific Flying Scotsman returned to public trains on the East Lancashire Railway this weekend folllowing a massive overhaul by Riley and Son of Bury for the National Railway Museum.
After a press launch and VIP dining train on Friday, the punters got their chance with on Saturday. Prebooking was essential, and the four eight-coach trains Scotsman was pulling on both Saturday and Sunday were quickly sold out. As consolation for those of us who missed them, two other stars made the day something like a mini-gala.

The rain poured down and the gloom was complete when it was announced that, due to the failure of 45407, a diesel would have to be found to support Scotsman's air brake. Waiting for over an hour actually meant the rain had stopped before the star of the show reached the huge crowds waiting at Ramsbottom.

She looked massive and magnificent in what I would describe as matte black, which looked either deep black or battleship grey, depending on the light. She sounded strong, sure and sweet as she set off up the hill. I followed her with the Crab for a few more pictures, feeling elated that this pinnacle of British steam fame and excellence is back with us, living, breathing and raring to go.

Roll on the next two weeks, when she is booked to do Manchester - Carlisle over the S&C and back over Shap. I'm not missing that one!

12 pictures are at http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/p932980164

Peter, on another grey January morning in Manchester, with Scotsman hopefully still at it only a few miles away
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com

 

I wonder if she might get paired with a Riley 5 to lighten the load? Got to be better than a box!
Chris

 

I disagree. Any Black 5 would be behind FS and would, in normal parlance, be the "train engine". It would detract totally from the expected visual isolation of FS at the head of the train. A box on the back would be quite inconspicuous.

 

If you are on about the loaded test run from York to Newcastle and return, I am sure they happened as planned, but leaving York in the Early evening.

The platforms at Chester le Street, were full to capacity with "normal" people desperate to see her.

She returned to York later that night, after servicing in Newcastle.

The Talisman, when she made her way to London, with passengers will surely go down as a bad day for trespass, loads of videos appeared, with some even taken from the 4', mainly joe public to be fair.

 

Congratulations and thank you to everyone at Riley & Sons for getting Flying Scotsman up and running again on time and on budget!
Anyone know if it will be facing north for next week's runs and when the nameplates will be fitted?