Flying Scotsman

To that end - quoted from this story from February:

"Flying Scotsman’s custodian, Northern Steam Operations Limited, has brought in DB Cargo UK to operate FLying Scotsman on the mainline, but the NRM says that 2025 will be more focussed on heritage railway visits for the famous locomotive."

 

The NRM could really help out the Heritage Railway industry by opening up visits of Scotsman to many more railways than they do. It only seems to go to the same few railways on a repeated basis and when you see them running more trains and longer trains than normal it is clear a big money earner.

They could set up a program that over the 10 years of its boiler ticket it visits X amount of railways per year so that everyone gets a go, with the option to opt out of course.

They seem to have a "no low loader" policy, many other pacifics go on and off low loaders without any issues it just seems more of an excuse.

You feel its time for the NRM to step up and help the sector!

 

Several loco owners have a no low loader policy.

 

The "no low loader" policy is for a good reason - the fixed wheelbase of an LNER pacific is about 24'. There's virtually no vertical movement in the Cartazzi, unlike the rear bogie of a Bulleid or Standard. The occasional road movement to and from works is OK, but not for a quick jolly to a preserved line. LMS pacifics are the same.

 

Well FS has been the "hot potato" for many years with it's history in many hands. Looking back, to my mind, it's most successful period has been under the management of Ian Riley whose company "straightened it out" mechanically and under their main line/heritage line running was a huge success. They were obviously proud and grateful of their guardianship and delivered accordingly. I await the next few years running to retract my observation ....

 

I don't think Northern Steam are short of support staff with NR PTS. They know plenty of people who I'm sure would help out. They certainly aren't scraping the barrel because they haven't asked me yet.

 

Where have the "main TOC's" stated this publicly ?....you state "clearly"...

 

https://www.ukrailtours.com/product...usQfFObngH-AOOh2vE_aem_7AORqZKkBPXt5noc9JmM4Q

Sunday 14th December, York - Newcastle - York, starting from Finsbury Park. £175 standard, £275 first, formed of Mk3s.

 

A Railtour with no dining is very unusual these days.

 

Good grief! Life is funny, one second we'll be here thinking up and discussing something that would be cool if it happened. Then bang it's announced.

This is such a positive step in the right direction for me, UK Railtours is in the current climate the perfect way forward with Scotsman. Sure they can't give it the amount of work it used to do but if it were to venture out even twice a year on a mainline trip. That would be excellent.

 

You are aware that the NRM charges premium hiring rates for the loco hence it will only visit heritage lines with the financial backing to afford the hire and a main line connection thus avoiding the need for road movements. Once on a heritage railway the line attempts to claw back the expense in any way it can. When it visited KWVR all line side permits were suspended with specific ones for the visit that were charged for; when it visited the ELR it was posed at Heywood and a platform charge made to visit the loco. In all cases the lines charge a premium fare for the event with many lines charging for a package that includes a day rover for the day of the visit.

 

I note that the coaches will be Mk3 and that they will "bid farewell to our diesel locomotive" at York. Does that mean that there will be a generator van, another diesel at the back, or what?

 

They've got a Mk3 generator car, but that's probably a bit excessive for a tour - I'd fully expect another diesel on the back. DB generally don't use it for assistance though.

 

If it is a DB operation will it no be behind the loco?

 

If there is a diesel in the consist, isn't it always behind the loco? The key question for photographers just seems to be whether it is immediately behind, or 250 yards behind

Tom

 

If photographers are going to be objecting to a diesel behind the tender, surely they'd be just as concerned about the pairing of an A3 with a rake of Mk. 3s?

 

I was not thinking about photographers, more where @Big Al is always telling where the correct place for it is, and how only DB have it right. Plus of course it will also still be leaf fall season.