Flying Scotsman

Thats rather interesting, I didn’t know that.

 

Worth a little detour on the way home from work this morning...

 

I suppose you could say Westminster Abbey and Buck Palace are national assets but you still have to pay to get in.

 

Fair comment if it were in the NRM and just part of the exhibition there. But, even ignoring those wider costs, there are costs associated with getting it to Kings Cross and then crewing it.

If as I understand, all the tickets sold, then that suggests a demand was there even at those prices which allowed the NRM to recover those costs and possibly make a return, which doing it for free would not have achieved.


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Wouldn't it be a joy to have 4498 standing alongside?

 

A close up of the splendid headboard made by Procast for the centenary:

 

Rushing to catch Eurostar this afternoon, I made a quick diversion to KX to see Flying Scotsman. Was worth the effort to see an A3 under the roof.

It was attracting quite a bit of attention.


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You could argue the same about the BBC being 100 this year - it didn't become the Corporation it is now until 1927...

 

Future preservationists?

 

And that's what it's all about.

 

I don’t disagree with that Ian, I just don’t agree with those kids or their parents having to pay for the experience of something like this.
This is me last summer, happy as a pig in crap.
Is this this something that really needs to be monetised?

 

The Strasburg RR in Pennsylvania seems to manage to charge for rather a lot of things when it comes to N&W #611..... https://www.strasburgrailroad.com/611-experiences/
On previous lists there were fees for being able to sound the whistle amongst other things!

 

It's not the first time this sort of thing has been monetised. You're talking as if the NRM are the first to charge to get in the cab, which isn't true. This has been happening for decades. The fixed price ticket amount is higher, perhaps, but most preservation societies when they do a "cab it" event ask for a donation to their costs. I've rarely seen people put less than a tenner in for the privilege.

What setting this up as an event has done is allow them to organise the public into viewing the locomotive in a way that isn't going to cause absolute chaos in London. You can see the locomotive from the opposite platforms safely and if you want to get up close and personal, pay your £7 for what is a unique experience in the capital.

I think the reality is that the NRM have priced it "about right" for what they are offering. It is normally a fiver they ask for, in a donation per person at the NRM for entry and the £2 surcharge on top to see Scotsman is part of covering the overall costs of the event. If this was £15 or more, I think there'd be rightly a clamour and protest at this, but it's £7. It's nearly the price of a pint of beer in London (now at around £6.50 a pint).

Is ten minutes enough? With the number of people visiting, I don't know how you would have got more time with the same number of people unless the suggestion is to run the event through the night.

Should it be free? We're all taxpaying owners of this locomotive in our own right. That doesn't mean it should automatically be free for people to access at any time. The money goes back into the NRM's coffers and budgets by way of the Science Museum Group, so you could strongly argue that Flying Scotsman is not just benefiting the railway part of the Science Museum Group - but all of them.

Were money no object, of course we would want everyone to enjoy steam locomotives for free. But the survival of the Science Museum Group, the NRM and Scotsman and the other exhibits depends on events like this, to get people through the doors. You can have the wider debate on public funding out of the treasury towards the arts elsewhere, I know where I stand on that.

 

Complete topic change when is Flying Scotsman moving to Swanage ??

 

Going back to the cab it aspect. This event is not aimed at enthusiasts whatsoever, it is squarely aimed at the tourist market. We as an enthusiasts know when and where we might want to go and see a certain loco. To the weekending tourist, they dont. You need a targeted event and a captive audience to a point.

 

Tuesday morning:
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U14194/2022-10-18/detailed

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We’ve disagreed often Simon but in this case you’re spot on IMO.

 

We have, but I hope you know there’s no animosity on my part! And thank you for your kind words.

 

There’s a steady stream of punters all smiling from ear to ear so they must think it’s worth it. For those who want a freebie or couldn’t get a ticket, there’s always the view from platform 7.
https://flic.kr/p/2nTh67i

 

Cost an eye watering 6d at Chester in 1967 (that's inflation), mind you Gresley and an Electric were in the display too.