Cath Ex - Flying Scotsman - 21/05/16

Without having to give away timings, does anyone know if the Paddington to Salisbury trips are going via Basingstoke or Westbury?

 

What Paddington to Salisbury trips?

 

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/flying-scotsman-back-track-whistle-11360257

From my local rag.

Not forgetting nobody is allowed to see it though due to all FS timings being part of the official secrets act.
Anyone divulging such info will shot at dawn.
What do they say in the newspaper industry? "Publish & be dammed".

 

Without prejudice my understanding is running via Westbury with water stop at Newbury racecourse - but then what do I know ?

 

Doesn,t look like Scotsman will be going to Paddington !!

 

If I was going to look at a train that isn't running, specially one that isn't going to Winchester, Southampton, Winchester, Paddington I would guess that if it were running it would have to be via Westbury, but of course as we know it does not exist, it wont be doing that.

 

As I understand it, the route is supposed to be Pad - Newbury - Westbury - Salisbury outward and Salisbury - Andover - Reading - Pad return. During the Salisbury lay-over, a second set of passengers will get a round trip Salisbury - Southampton, out via Redbridge, return via Eastleigh. However, my information is at least 3rd-hand and may be out-of-date or inaccurate.

 

This is my 4000th message! (Sorry, couldn't resist...)

 

Right, someone on my local town forum who is just a normal member of the public & not an enthusiast as such has heard that FS is passing Reading tomorrow.
Saying that they would like to go & see it, they asked if it was passing Sonning Cutting because they want miss the crowds at Reading Station (I don't think there will be & we all know why).
I had to break the sad news that although it is probably passing Sonning Cutting the timings are part of the official secrets act & nobody but nobody is allowed to find them out.
I also said that it is a total disgrace for something in public ownership.

 

It could be one of your last too as you have posted the Route of the trip

People from the NRM will take you to darkened room and subject you to the torture of smelling Diesel fumes and looped recordings of Diesel loco's accelerating

 

So far all of her runs have appeared on RTT and OTT, embargo or no embargo, so in all probability you will be able to find out the times once they go live.

 

My sincere apologies if my reply seemed a little hostile. No offence was taken from your original post. I just wanted to highlight the fact that there were a lot of comments like the example I used.
Things were getting a little silly on the social media sites. People waiting for Scotsman were also not happy as some of the stations were announcing that 60103 was on her way only for a Class 47 to appear.
What I didn't quite understand were the people waiting in the London area who were posting on Twitter that they were waiting on stations for 60103 to appear even though it was easy to find on Twitter the news that she had failed.

 

Wont it be facing the wrong way At Winchester after the afternoon tea loop, to go back via Andover?

 

This is a classic example of how the hype has been built and no-one is doing a reasonable job of managing it there after. It could all rapidly turn to hostility and resentment, and leave the NRM with a headache. The Daily Mail has already had a pop at them about it.

 

Yes, that's what I thought (I assume you mean Salisbury, not Winchester). The afternoon trip would turn her through 180 degrees so that she would be facing Westbury, not Andover.

 

Resigned from forum due to inflammatory posts by Mr Knowun.

 

Bloody Klingon technology!

 

It appears that times for FS are released on the day as RTT seems able to pick them up at that time. Presumably a quick check on RTT should link to that day's times hence the need to be ready for a quick move.

 

Do we know if she's going solo or has a diesel pilot?