LE Movements, ECS and Test Runs 2021

Just my opinion railadvent need to keep Flying Scotsman timing private.

 

Not only Railadvent!

https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/...EiWUwanjikLnYKGoq_RKDOX1HreFBmReXg0c2Wtk7nbYM

 

You say that, but I wonder where local news outlets gets the timing details from in the first place. Could it be that Railadvent has a nice little sideline in alerting local news organisations to these moves?

Just a thought.

Peter

 

When it came south on the WCML our local paper gave a link to RTT in its online version and suggested people could check its progress.
As far as I know there were no incidents yesterday but it was midweek and school term time.

 

Journalism is interested in stories, publish stories and then publish stories that happened as a result of the earlier information you disclosed... win-win as far as they are concerned...

 

To an extent I agree, but it wont happen as for RailAdvent and 'newspaper' websites its all clickbait, headline with Flying Scotsman in, people click the link and the more people visiting the page, the more advertising revenue they get. No doubt for RailAdvent that Flying Scotsman 'news' items will be some of their most clicked through pages and thus generate them the most revenue.

Also on the other hand, while you get some idiots and I agree during a global pandemic its better to not encourage crowds out, especially at stations, in 'normal times' Flying Scotsman is 'the peoples engine' and is hid away from the public for the majority of the year. You mention to anyone an interest in railways, they will mention Flying Scotsman to you. People should be encouraged to go out and see it passing by when its local to them, preferably with a safety message attached (the NRM outline Flying Scotsman dates on their website already, if they press released tours themselves (or even Network Rail) with outline timings and safety messages, no doubt a safety message would appear in 'news articles', they are generally just press releases regurgitated).

 

From my point of view, if the tour promotor has stated they have not advertised the timings for XX and YY reason on request of ZZ body, the media outlets should respect it. If they choose not to, they belong in the gutter and that is basically what clickbait web sites are. Don't let a bit of respect and decency get in the way of making a few quid.

 

You could be right Peter, who knows.

 

It’s called an embargo, and journalists should respect it.


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Ultimately I suspect the (anti)Social Media, especially Farcebook and Twitser.
Maybe references to 60103, 4472, FS might be preferable amongst when we need to refer to it?
But ultimately its its number of imbeciles in our population. No other country seems to require its railways to be fenced off like military establishments, yet this trespassing lunacy seems to be a British speciality...

 

Alas embargo have no legal standing. I recall some years ago a tabloid published the New Year's Honours list ahead of the embargo date and time to get one over their competitors and there was nothing the Palace could do.

 

I well recall when 6233 made its first Royal Train move on the north Wales Coast and I had the audacity to publish times on a website. When challenged by the locomotive owner regarding a breach of security that could have cost him the run I pointed out that (a) no train is allowed to operate within 5 minutes of a Royal Train and passing times were thus calculated based on WTT HST times + 50% - hence no "breach of security". In fairness to the owner I have heard of staff revealing Royal Train times from internal computer systems being instantly sacked hence understand his anguish at the possible loss of opportunity.

But, as Big Al points out any competent enthusiast can quickly work out passing times - the question is whether he then publishes that timetable and where.

 

I have travelled quite widely on railways over many years in 3 continents. Britain treats railway "trespass" more rigidly and as more heinous than most countries that I have visited. Note I do not suggest that this is good or bad.

As an extreme example on the mainline south of Moscow I saw a number of passengers alight from a commuter ER2 EMU and duck under the train between the bogies to cross the track. The train departed shortly after!

 

Flying Scotsman is owned by the public, and we have (or are supposed to have) a free press. "It should be embargoed" is the territory of the few who think they have special privileges.

 

A "free press" can only be bound by legal edicts, and embargoes don't fall into that category, so anyone is at liberty to publish if they choose. If the public are not overtly informed about an event that is at a high risk of trespass, it lowers the risk of future such events being banned. Those with the knowledge to find/work things out can do so, but they are not the ones likely to risk the future of the activity. It's the same in so many spheres of life - knowing where to look is key. I was quite pleasantly surprised that no information was available here until after the events yesterday, but the route was still lined with spectators.

 

When FS had its first outing after the Riley rebuild in stealth black, ELR had private security at all access points (crossings etc) and again second trip. FS has been back several times since, no security, no mass trespass problems, reduced interest. I am suprised there is so much hype about perceived trespass, it could be with being let out after lockdown, we'll see when things start to roll.

 

Indeed, though I’d be interested to see how you get on entering Coningsby uninvited to see your Spitfire - public ownership doesn’t quite mean what you suggest. But if an organisation asks that information not be disseminated further, it is a question of manners to abide by that request.

Whether or not NR are being reasonable in their concerns over FS’ operations is another question entirely.


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I would suggest that "free press" is a bit of a misnomer; IMHO freedom is another form of imprisonment with the need of an individual / media to take note of both privileges and responsibilities - both to oneself and others. I could suggest the current "freedom" of Governments to suggest that a particular vaccine is not suitable thus leading its populace to reject it but then suffer high death rates is NOT the actions of a responsible Government - and the actions of a "free press" in publicising that policy is also highly irresponsible. The question I suggest is a matter of degree and one of personal responsibility.

 

I was looking at this from a safety perspective.