Flying Scotsman

And back to Flying Scotsman's effect on railway publicity and public relations

A visit to Tweedbank on Sunday during the loco's layover saw (literally) hundreds of people queuing to have a (free) 5 minute session on the platform with visitors being guided to extra car parks by Community Volunteers; police on traffic control; standby ambulance in attendance and a marquee advertising Borders Railways; a forthcoming national Book Fair being held in Melrose and a local brewery selling food and drink by the case-full.

Not only a day out for many - including young children and family groups - but a well-taken opportunity to advertise rail and rail travel within the Borders and steam traction to a new generation. Love it or loathe it, Flying Scotsman is THE icon which has the power to appeal to all generations and if harnessed properly could be the source of many such "local" events.

As a aside 8 people were arrested for trespassing during Sunday's excursion on the Fife Circle and it will be interesting to see if they are charged and - if so - what penalties will be charged.

Methinks that NR underestimates the factors which influence people's response to - and regard for - railways and until they do they will fail to appreciate the factors which will keep railways operational hence provide them with their employment.

 

Are we allowed to say it's apparently broken? Service hauled by Stratford-liveried class 47 instead.

The little country crossing I went to have a look at it had a BTP presence, which surprised me.

 

If you Google Steam Dreams Hampshire Cream Tea the timings for the train are there and appear to have changed since I last checked, looks like they accidentally uploaded them!

 

Indeed the times are different to what was advertised, we only got the final times yesterday! I just hope her injector issue is fixed by then.

 

According to the works - injectors overhauled and supplied by a 3rd party contractor

Now fixed, heading to London

 

Thats a little bit misleading. It actually reads, The injectors that were overhauled and supplied by a third party contractor, have now been fixed and a path South is being sought but there is nothing yet confirmed. Supplementary information seems to suggest they have been a bit troublesome, previously.

 

Well that's just a touch pedantic, I was just supplying a quick update from what I read..I'll make sure I'm exact next time. Terribly sorry.

 

If it's any consolation I knew what you meant. Seemed plain enough to me but then again, I'm not encumbered by the omniscience that seems to afflict others.

 

I dont mean to get into a row, I dislike pedants, but your post was misleading, implying the injectors were being overhauled by a third party whereas Rileys team were fixing them, and the train was definitely on its way. Neither is accurate. Specially the last part!

 

Do buck up a bit Billy, you should know by now that there's always going to be somebody ready to jump on you if you haven't got a post spot on accurate.
Mr Riley has reported that the loco. is "fit for traffic" and that's good enough for me. After the last "gauging" incident in Scotland it's reasonable to assume that NR are NOT going to come up with "sorry, no paths available, leave it where it is".

 

Was poking about the line yesterday, these have appeared everywhere,

 

mrKnowwun probably dislikes me then as I am a pedant but he is wholly correct about the need to quote accurately. It is very simple to cut and a paste a quote accurately. Include correct punctuation and the source please. If posters were more careful then perhaps some of the misapprehensions that plague NP would be avoided.

 

Is that how you dress up for Victor?

 

I weel say zis only wince - if you look under the third brick along, the one with the chalk mark on, something is moving from the NRM at a time I can't say, to a place I can't mention, but I will say its only part of a move that could end up elsewhere.

 

Well that's probably 2 of us not on his Christmas card list then as I don't think he likes me after I pointed out something incorrect on a previous post of his.

Dave B

 

And here's me, unencumbered by a university education, who understood exactly what Billyreopening meant.

 

Yes I saw that . Perhaps a test run before continuing on down South ??!