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

High-pitched versus low-pitched (Stanier hooter) versus chime may be a matter of personal preference, but surely they all need to be reliably loud enough. Any whistle that seems at all feeble should be dealt with.

 

It's a Caladonian hooter, all Stanier did was decided to use it for his locomotives.

 

I thought so (post 69). And a very good decision it was.

 

I think these are very good points but few would disagree that for sheer noise and impact, the GWR whistles are the tops. As a kid at Taunton station, I still have vivid memories of the sheer thrill of seeing and hearing Castles and Kings racing through at 80mph with whistle wide open. Oddly enough with all the TV publicity for Flying Scotsman last week, they showed some old footage and overdubbed it with a locomotive blowing a GWR whistle. Ha ha I thought although I suspect most didn't pick it up.

 

Sorry, but that's not correct. The National Railway Museum's press office is given as the only official source for information, and we have been categorically advised that any information from other sources is given 'off the record'. As a reputable publication Railway Herald will only take information from authorised sources.

 

All down to personal preference. Bulleid supporters will no doubt consider that wonderful middle C as the best thing since sliced bread, LNER/Gresley enthusiasts will consider nothing comes close to that glorious chime and so on.

 

No disrespect but you're hardly going to criticise your own publication.

 

Quite - there's already enough ill-informed comment on here doing that! How many of those that have criticised the magazine have actually read the article, I wonder?

 

Criticise it for what? Publishing what we are being told was the official line given a week ago?
The only slightly unfortunate part is that the report didn't have an attribution but that's been clarified subsequently. Really can't see where the problem is with the reporting. After all its only telling us what Ralph eloquently explained to Andy above. All being well .... etc.
wait and see what the next week brings and stop shooting a messenger.

 

I can understand the scepticism about FS making it for the 23rd, it is after all only 8 days away, and we have so far only had a few gentle supported poodles along a private line, and that was just over a week since the fire had been lit for the first time in over 10 years.

 

Having had personal experience of a "respected railway journal" printing an official press release almost completely wrong and another making 2 + 2 = 5 and printing an item that was largely inaccurate, I take magazine reports with a pinch of salt these days. Sometimes I'm right to do so, sometimes I'm not but in any case I wouldn't expect an employee to publicly criticise his journal if an error had been made.

 

A lot of heat and not much light has been generated by the statement in Railway Herald about what must precede a public mainline excursion by a newly overhauled engine. Let me attempt some exegesis of what has been said. (Google it if you were never a theologian)

It is common ground amongst all who have contributed that there must be running in on a preserved line (the ELR, says Ian) and a light and a loaded test run (next week, says Ian). So far, so clear. But the Railway Herald talked of the need for mileage accumulation of 1000 miles, and they claim the authority of the NRM Press Office, which claims the authority of the NRM as owner of Flying Scotsman and the commissioner of its overhaul by Rileys. Meantime it has been pointed out that locos overhauled at Carnforth and Tyseley have not had to satisfy this requirement>

So we have the NRM insisting that 1000 miles on a preserved line is a necessary precondition, whereas Riley, RTC and presumably WCRC are determined that all will be well on 23 January and Scotsman will take us to Carlisle and back. So is there a dissonance between NRM management and its press office, or between the NRM in York and Riley and WCRC in the County Palatine of Lancaster, not to mention RTC in Kings Lynn?

I suppose only time will tell... and there is still the ORR ...

Peter on a frosty Manchester evening, looking forward to another weekend of Scotsman on the ELR, but anxiously awaiting what will happen in eight days time.
http://pjhtransportpix.zenfolio.com/p932980164

 

You know that for a fact do you?.......

You'd be surprised what goes on "after dark"!!

 

The times for next Saturday...

Out: http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U50608/2016-01-23

Return: http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/U50609/2016-01-23

James

 

The difference in the internet age I guess is that facts become out of date much quicker. By the time RH was published 5 days after the press event more is known about whether or not deadlines can be met.
The opaqueness about what the actual certification requirements are, applying RSSB normative documents, vis how many miles etc also confuses the picture. It's not written in tablets of stone is the answer.
The consulting engineer has said he will decide when it's submitted for test, presumably this has been provisionally booked. Final decision after the further weekend of test running at ELR.

 

Alan, why is it a pity for the owners to have given the fairest most honest answer possible in the circumstances? What else could have been said?
Or is it better to avoid saying anything at all and causing an adverse inference from the silence?
The fact is its going to the wire, probably despite best intentions when the press day was arranged.
Personally I prefer an honest appraisal.

 

Where's the "dislike" button?
So the NRM press office cannot comment on their own loco and the press cannot publish what the press office say.
I usually find myself broadly agreeing with your comments but this one is just claptrap!