Flying Scotsman

Email an hour or so ago from RTC. This Saturday’ Cotswold Venturer will be hauled by Royal Scot.


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You obviously thought wrong.

 

I do hope you have put in as much work on 60103 (4472) as fish7373 did in its Southall days? His grammar may not be correct, but criticism is
easily aimed by the ill informed.

 

Love how people rush to defend the indefensible. Why should I have to waste my time mentally correcting the sloppy grammar of others?

 

So why do it?

 

There was me thinking 60103 was supposed to be 'the people's engine'? Or is it just for those who can pay a premium for to see and ride behind it? I don't think it's right the NVR should have to be in some sort state of lockdown due to an impromptu visit by 60103. I'm not advocating a storming of the shed at Wansford by a mass of the general public. But for me something isn't quite right that the NVR can't say anything about its latest visitor, or is it because no exclusivity/profit sharing contract has been signed?

 

Whoa folks........FS has had a mechanical problem, Mr Riley and his team have assessed the problem, they have removed the part AS THEY SAW FIT, and now, as we speak, repairs are being carried out at Heywood. Now what the hell is wrong with that?? what's all this c rap about lifting methods, grammar, and previous maintenance?

 

Quite so.
It would have been a whole lot worse without a retained contractor if NRM had total responsibility. It would probably have had to follow procurement rules, get 3 bids for a site to do the work, tender for the lifting contract, tender for the repair etc etc.

 

I don't need to criticise. Bob Meanley's Report for the NRM a few years back enables us all to be enlightened on the work done on 60103 prior to the NRM's ownership (as well as highlighting problems of the museum based overhaul before she went to Riley & Sons).

 

Nothing is stopping you going to see 60103 at the NVR. Just buy a platform ticket and she's yours to admire for as long as you like. Or do you think you should be able to wander round to your heart's content without coughing up a single cent? The lockdown is to a) prevent loads of people getting a freebie and b) to prevent people from getting in the way of the work.

 

As you well know, in railway preservation those who can, do and those who can't, sit at a keyboard and moan.

 

The 'lockdown' as described is more the railway ensuring at all the various gates onto the Wansford site are locked so people can't sneak in. The railway are more than happy to allow people to come and have a look from the public areas of the site... They simply need to enter via the booking office and get a platform ticket, and then exit through the gift shop.

Whilst the railway aren't allowed to publicise the loco being there as it's not an official visit I understand local press and social media have been banging the jungle drum so all hasn't been lost!

 

And some of us manage all three!

 

Given that the Nene Valley has just had a Thomas event, everyone in Peterborough and the surrounding area will be aware where 60103 is. As the loco is on a work site, with the usual H & S regulations in place, then the word "lockdown" is a bit excessive. It is not the Crown Jewels, after all.
As Spamcan81 has said, it is visable from public areas of the Railway.

 

Perhaps, but it was the phrase used to me by staff at the railway, some of whom were surprised to find everything locked up on their arrival, and even those of us on the foot-ex last Friday had to park offsite and walk in while the car park remained locked and empty (ostensibly to keep it clear for the arrival of the cranes, but as those weren't due until Saturday I'm not sure that was strictly necessary). I still had a most enjoyable day there, and being able to see FS was an added bonus (and I did like the way NVR parked Thomas in shot for anybody taking pictures from the platform).

 

More than happy to throw a quid into the pot Ian, on previous visits Wansford various groups have had a little bit of financial help from me including your own (not much, but it all adds up). And as I said in my previous post I think it's a little bit wrong that the NVR can't offically say something on its website or Facebook page like 'we have an impromptu visit from 60103 Flying Scotsman due it developing a fault on a recent mainline run, whilst it's undergoing it's repairs it may be viewed from the platform at Wansford, this is a short notice visit for essential repairs and the locomotive will not be in use' Why can't the NVR be allowed to say something like that? That's what I find slightly annoying.

 

There was an NVR Instagram post shown on the Cathedrals Express thread on this site, pretty much to that effect, on the day it ran the hot box. It is still shown there.
One must assume those at York "readjusted the NVR's thinking" and made them take it down, based on the comments on this thread. As I personally use none of the social media platforms I would not know.

 

There should be opportunities to see Scotsman working once the repairs are finished as she will need to be run in . I am sure Riley & Son will do everything they can to get the wheelset back as soon as possible .

 

The NVR doesn't need to say anything. Social media has done the job for them as has the press, local and not so local.