Flying Scotsman and Caley 419 to visit Swanage Gala- March 2019

Yes it’s a rather fine locomotive that much I can agree

 

Do you understand why the engine in question cost so much? Essentially the job had to be tackled twice. In marked contrast to what can be witnessed viewings 4498/60007 a glance into the workshop at the NRM whilst the overhaul of 4472 was taking place would, in my experience, all too frequently reveal very little or nothing happening. Quite what went wrong we will never get to fully know. The unrealistic time frame set from the beginning was not exactly helpful, far better is the WC "it will be ready when it is ready and the appearance of the engine will let you know" approach. But that would be unrealistic with regard to this particular subject matter.
From the Meanley report we get some idea of what went wrong but this does not explain why some people that were quite highly thought of were found to be seriously wanting. It also fails to explain why matters were allowed to continue with the senior management apparently unaware. Given that there were and are a substantial body of people well versed in the running and operating of LNER Pacifica it is is most peculiar that these this skills and knowledge base was not accessed at the time.
It was all rather messy but time has moved on and anyone operating an engine should be aware of the lessons to be learned.
You say that the engine "has cost all of us a lot of money", so go then, give us a figure. And as this engine is viewed as being, in general terms, as being of National importance, please note that the whole population can be considered as well as a number of foreign visitors.

 

I have stated my view which I know is shared by many so I will not contribute further

 

Excellent. Presume you know what happened to dinosaurs.

 

I'm a working SR volunteer and I went along today for interest, not in a working capacity.
Spots such as Corfe Castle foot crossing were busy, but there weren't as many photographers as I'd have expected at Afflington Bridge or near Woodyhyde.
Gilbert Road and Northbroook Road Bridge surrounding Swanage station were busy with spectators all day and the town was as busy as a day in the summer holidays - people everywhere.
Yes, FS events are expensive to stage and ticket prices need to be premium, but the trains are full and the spin off benefit to the town is immeasurable.

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I too attended on Friday and found the lineside busy - maybe NOT photographers but certainly members of the public and some who had travelled fair distances to come and view the locomotive. Trivial perhaps but 3 examples of the draw : -

1. The National Trust car-park at Corfe Castle was full by 09:00 despite the locomotive's first appearance being due at 10:20
2. The baker in Corfe Castle's square had a continuous queue throughout the morning
3. The whole length of Gilbert Road in Swanage was full of observers for each departure as was the bridge overlooking the turntable

Admittedly pricing was high - perhaps too high for some observers - but the trains were full hence my interest in knowing not only the profit from the event for the railway but the gains made within the local economy; I suspect the local area received a welcome pre-Easter boost.

My personal interest - however - wasn't just 60103 but - to my parochial taste - the Caley Tank which provided the following scene of interest : -

 

Many thanks for information. Yes, similar situation on Friday at Corfe Common; the contingent of what I might call 'enthusiasts' were outnumbered by folk just there to see FS pass and, as you note, some had traveled some distance as well as brave the muddy footpaths!
Glad that the event seems to have been a success in financial terms.

 

One of the Swanrail C&W chaps went on Friday.
He paid the extra £5 for the coach next to the engine returning to Swanage.
What bemused and irritated him, were two chap opposite, who spent the whole journey looking at their phones and playing videos with the sound so loud that he or anyone else around them could not hear Scotsman.

 

I'm writing this from coach A on the 13.25 Flying Scotsman departure. Attended because my son has never had the pleasure of riding behind her.

Never seen so many staff members or security present at any preservation event but it appears to be working and the atmosphere is very good. The cossing between Nordon and rhe castle, the road bridge at Harmans Cross and Afflington bridge is heaving and the fields adjacent to it are well patronised. Probably helped by the sun. No sign of anyone being where they shouldn't and both Harmans Cross and Corfe Castle stations are very quiet.

So far so good. Just awaiting the big green machine to couple up for the run back to Swanage.

Ps. One very happy 11 year old so money well spent.

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Was Duty 2 on Friday, so after preparing 80104 (or '126) I got a trip out on her then a trip on 60103. What a lovely machine, Team Riley really have done a good job on her and she performed brilliantly.

With regards to Swanage, it's been a massive event. I have never seen the platforms so busy, never known loco crews have to fight through 4/5 people deep to get to cabs. Yet the method of operation with crowd control etc all seemed to be working. Yes she costs a lot, but as most railways are now a business and need cold hard cash to help develop things - this is a welcomed event and I hope to see a number of projects advance courtesy of what this has brought to the line. People can moan about the costings all they want, the market is more than happy to pay it which is good news for all lines concerned - and 60103 herself. End of the day she still needs to pay for another overhaul at some point. Are we really going to ask the nation to find another £4 million every 10 years or so?

 

Many thanks to you and everyone involved for their hard work in making this event such a success. As you say, all of the historic railway industry needs hard cash to keep it going and by staging such events it means that the industry can keep going. Everyone has the opportunity to attend such events or not as their interests takes them. Ours is a very 'broad church' in terms of interest and we are so fortunate to pick and choose whether we attend the various galas and events or not, personal finances permitting.
As an 'armchair enthusiast' I take my hat off to all working volunteers. Thank you!

 

No.60103 climbing away from Corfe Castle in the last of the sun yesterday afternoon...



James

 

Did 419 operate any services over the weekend?

 

So a jamboree then @gricerdon, I'm now going to share a moment with you that happened to me on Saturday morning. I was there Friday and Saturday support crewing on the loco.

After completing the first trip, I got off the footplate for a comfort break and returned to see a group of people around the engine footplate a good 4 or 5 deep. After Scotsman had uncoupled from the train and around 5 minutes or so had passed, I went to check with the Swanage crew to see if we had the road to leave the station and enter the yard so the train could be shunted back into the station. We had the road so I had to start asking people to clear the area and remove themselves from the footplate.

Now on asking people to make way, I was stood next to a gentleman and I'd say his 9 or 10 year old son, who on hearing me ask people to make way, completely broke down and buried his head into his fathers chest. I then heard his dad start comfort him. Now being a dad myself, at this point all I could think of was my own sons and saw myself in their situation.

Righty or wrongly, I took the bull by the horns and asked the boys dad if he could come with me, permission was granted and I managed to clear the crowd and got his son onto the footplate for around 10 seconds or so. For the rest of the day and until now to be fair, I just hoped that the boy enjoyed the rest of his day at the railway and went home happy that he managed to stand on the footplate of Scotsman.

Ideally, everyone who attended this "jamboree" as you have called it, have hopefully had a great time and got to see Scotsman in some sort of capacity. Saturday was the busier of the two days that I was available to help out with but Sunday was also a sell out according to the reports I heard.

I also got to meet some really nice, genuine people who thoroughly deserve this event to be a huge success and I personally hope that the railway benefits from all the work that has gone into planning and staging this weekend and the static display over the next two weeks or so.

I appreciate your opinion Don and you have every right to portray it but please don't insult those who have tried their very best to make Scotsman's visit to Swanage a huge success by calling it a jamboree. I'll ask you this, how would you have felt by looking and hearing that 10 year old lad and seeing his heartbroken reaction, you certainly wouldn't have a called it a "jamboree" then!

 

No. The Feeder services are 6x coaches, as are this week's Blue TT services. This is a bit too much for 419, so she will only be operating public services over the Spring Steam Up event. She performed station pilot duties admirably over the weekend, and was available as a replacement loco should one of A3 / T9 / Std had failed - though 33111 would of been called in to assist too if such a situation had arisen.

 

Steam Locomotive 60103 "Flying Scotsman" hauled trains very successfully for 5 days (22 - 26 March) with around 97% patronage.

It is on static display at Corfe Castle station until Wednesday 10th April (inclusive) from 10:00 to 16:45 daily. Visitors wishing to 'get close up and personal' require separate timed tickets to board Scotsman's footplate and talk to the crew as well as have the opportunity for close up photos. There are also special train tickets - which include train ride and visit to the footplate. All tickets are available on-line or in person from Swanage Railway ticket offices at Swanage, Norden and Corfe Castle. However, early purchase is most advisable because of continued high demand.

"Flying Scotsman" will move to Swanage after 16:45 on 10th April to be readied for return to the main line. Currently it is scheduled to leave Swanage early on Friday 12th April and the full timings back to WCRC Southall can be found here: http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U10793/2019/04/12/advanced

The engine will leave tender-first but looks like it is scheduled to run-round it's support coach at Southampton.

 

How many more running days has the ivatt got ?

 

Staying until the other side of Easter. She's just part of the fleet in effect now, but with 2x Train running approaching for Easter there is plenty of scope for her to work trains.

 

Popped out to see FS 'trundle' back from Swanage to Southall this morning; very large crowds on Romsey station to witness movement with support coach. Loco still has 'celebrity status'!!