The 'Festive Flying Scotsman'. 14/12/25

Eastern Rail Services own 4 generator cars of their own (ex Nightstar ones), can only presume none were available.

Glad some steam was still possible, though clearly not the day that was originally planned.

 

Although only indirectly relevant to this thread, York has seen an abundance of steam working in the lead up to Christmas this year. Appropriately this has included all four types of LNER pacific, as seen here:

Not a bad tally some 60 years on from their demise from top link East Coast working.

Peter

 

Only one of the nightstar generator vehicles is in full operational condition and thats in the Rail 200 Inspiration Exhibition Train.

I believe another does work but its running gear needs overhaul.

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All in all, I think UKRT made the best of a bad hand didn't they.

Looking at videos on line there is nothing to suggest any issue with the loco dropping onto the stock at York, plus I don't really understand why, as some posts online suggest, if there was an issue with the stock why Network Rail would be required to get involved to inspect things??

What does jump out from the video is the spotless turnout of 60103 and also the rolling stock which is a credit to the parties involved.

 

Out of curiosity as the coupling on the last coach is mentioned was it reconnecting the diesel onto the back that caused the problem rather than Scotsman backing on at the front?

 

I very much doubt it. The diesel loco came off the front of the train and went into the parcels siding as planned. It was only much later that it was decided to attach it to the rear of the train for the much delayed onward run to Newcastle. Although I was there I have no idea what the problem was and those who knew had enough on their plate without me pestering them. I made my way home long before any solution was arrived at.

Peter

 

Its been mentioned elsewhere that it was the coupling between support coach and the stock where the problem arose, albeit to say again I have no idea why this would have been any interest to Network Rail?

 

I kind of suspect that it took two or three attempts to get the buckeyes to connect - not an unusual situation, especially on a bit of a curve - and this was seen as being far more of a problem than it really was.
I was some way away from what was going on to say for certain what was happening but I wasn't aware of anything out of the ordinary. Fortunately there was enough wriggle room between the loco and the signal for the necessary movements to take place.

Peter

 

Thanks for both replies.

 

I think UK Railtours deserve some credit for managing the situation, the arrival back at York was just 15 minutes down, an on time departure from there followed and the return to Finsbury Park was just 6 minutes late, whatever the mishap and subsequent delay the recovery was remarkable !!!

Realtime Trains | 1Z73 1733 Newcastle to York | 14/12/2025

Realtime Trains | 1Z74 1958 York to Finsbury Park | 14/12/2025