Fife Circle - Flying Scotsman - 15/05/16

The surprising thing is that NR didn't put FS's programme in a different basket from other steam hauled excursions. After all the other thread has dozens of posts about high profile. Two TV programmes have happened. FS has somehow achieved iconic status since it last ran. Let's hope that one thing that comes out of this is that NR makes a cast iron commitment to gauge the whole of FS's programme for the rest of the year upfront in the next month. This really is a special case.

 

Lower part of the cylinder being wider than the top maybe hitting platform coping?

 

Now running as planned according to the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-36292966

 

According to the BBC the trips are back on. I suspect someone at NR got a kicking.

 

Someone must have found the (missing?) data then

Dave B

 

Talk about rank incompetence. Some passengers will probably have already abandoned their plans. And as for the hopes to keep Scotsman's profile a bit lower to minimise the risk of trespass, the trip has now gained more publicity than it would have.

Apparently NR's customer satisfaction is around the 40% mark, I'm surprised it's as high as that!

Jon

 

If it is the lower cylinder width, so long as it can get past coping stones even if only by centimetres, just run it through at 5 mph under observation. Seen it done with City of Truro (connecting rod possible problem) with the Fireman walking along the platform.

 

A passenger just confirmed they are back on to me.

 

Yeah must have been up all night down at Maynard Friedman.

Carne, Hendy and Verster credited with achieving somersault over at WNXX.

 

Its still an absolute farce. Whilst we should be thankful for the behind the scenes effort to ensure that its now running, the remaining question is how can they magically acquire the requisite gauging data in sixteen hours? Something still smells a bit, and its not the contents of my kitchen bin on this warm day...

 

You can bet that if it was any other locomotive/tour, this so called u-turn just wouldn't happen ! Delighted for the paying passengers, though not impressed that Verster is been credited for the saviour of the tour !

 

Having looked at the post in WNXX, I get the impression that it was mainly Hendy and Carne, with Verster as 'facilitator'. I can't imagine the latter bending over backwards for a steam tour unless forced.

UPDATE: I have retracted this speculation in light of further information.

 

The bridge was later demolished and has never been replaced.

 

The Jocks are now claiming that they fixed it. ScotRail have worked tirelessly over the past 24 hours and in that period of time have managed to sort out problems that Network Rail couldn't do in 12 weeks.

Since when did a ToC/Franchiser become the owner of the permanent way and infrastructure north of the border?

 

Now, the irony comes thick and fast. Steam dreams ask for the times to be withheld because of the trespass risk, NR withhold the times till late, and then make an almighty balls up that ensures that the FS run is front page headlines all over the country..... If anyone wasn't aware of the run, they are now.....


Are we still seriously saying that times should not be published in a restricted group like this one?

 

Just picked up on a twitter feed. One of the messages says that Sir Peter Hendy (NR chairman) was not pleased. The word incandescant was used.

 

Scotland has a predominantly 'nationalist' government so political spin is the order of the day I guess.

 

Just be happy it's resolved

 

Being aware of the run is one thing. Knowing the actual time it will pass a specific location is another. As a result, we can hope that the trespass issue will be reduced.