Flying Scotsman

The evolution of the East Coast racehorse. Seen at the NRM this afternoon.

 

I always said everything looks better in Midland red...

 

Shame about that disgusting looking object next to it, the one on the right

 

Yes I agree the new blue painted steel roof and supporting structure are not a patch on the original roundhouse roof!

 

But you're not in the picture.

 

'Lode Star'? I'm always getting my left and right mixed up too.

 

Why railway enthusiasts feel the need to denigrate everything they personally don't like is beyond me. Such negativity and downright nastiness is part of our bad reputation and gives rise to the train spotter stereotypes the media is quick to jump on. No, the Great Western loco isn't my personal cup of tea either but I'm not going to decry it just because it happens to share space with some of my favourite locomotives. Nor is the Deltic the be all and end all for me but I'm not going to decry it because it's there.

Could we as a movement just grow up a tiny bit and learn to live with each other's interests, please? I find the differences in what we are all interested in to be fascinating and would never dismiss out of hand anyone for taking in interest in something relating to railways that didn't personally interest me.

Perhaps instead we could flip it and thank the NRM for actually putting on a rather good exhibit showing the development of line we had on the East Coast Mainline? What a fabulous idea and one that could be extended to other railway companies and even for locomotives built abroad. Well done the NRM.

 

I don't think they were being entirely serious… a better example can be found in the Devon Belle thread if you're keen though…

Simon

 

(I'm not good at reading sarcasm or humour online...)

 

You're right it wasn't meant seriously, although an A4 would have been better

 

As the pilot engine I presume?

 

Yeah, Lode Star is a bit out of place, but fear not, it shouldn't be too long before Pendennis Castle is available...

 

My apologies John, it was your post that initially started my undeserved rant. I will be more mindful in future.

 

He's in "the book".

 

Hence the wink.

 

Even if #5647 was triggered by taking #5643 too seriously, there is nevertheless some truth in it, notably whenever the name Thompson is mentioned.

 

For completeness (and I don't think it's been stated anywhere), I was told this weekend that the tender is now at Crewe.

 

Thanks - I've always thought they should paint the 2nd tender plain grey or black. Matching it to the loco makes the loco look wrong - too long. Matching it to the train might require frequent repaints(!). A grey 'van' blends in with anything and could perhaps also be used by other locos.

 

For those of us who only had 4472 and her second tender to chase on the main line back in the 60s, she looked quite natural with her second tender in green. Would happily see that recreated in the future.

 

I'll admit I never saw it that way in person but to me it always looks somehow stretched and unbalanced in photos and Bittern the same. I guess Bill McAlpine thought so too when he had it repainted to match BR stock.