Flying Scotsman

I remember reading an interview with Pete Waterman at the time where he said that Scotsman was "knackered". Seems he was right but I'm still pleased the NRM bought it

 

If you think NRM was sold a load of junk then try this - you've got to love the e-bay speak!

For Sale

 

Truly awful.

 

I 100% agree. With her restoration she could become a household name once again I believe. No other steam locomotive receives as much TV coverage as she does and has done in the past 7 years despite not being in working condition. I believe she was worth £2.2 million and the NRM were completely right to buy her. She is the Flying Scotsman after all, maybe a bit knackered but still the last A3 locomotive in the world. It's a shame what has happened with the costs and length of her overhaul but I much prefer this to her sitting on the turntable at the NRM for the next 100 years. Nothing against the NRM's static exhibits but I am sure we'd all prefer them to be in steam.

 

Doesn't even look authentic (ie firebox profile) but then what is authentic for Scotsman.
At least this one is in one piece and appears to be in working order.

(Now where did I put that hard hat)!!!

 

Dont knock that loco, it is a very rare suvivor, and the boiler she has is NOT original.

 

It looks like we will have to wait quite a while for the engine to re-appear. Paul Kirkman is said to be on secondment from the treasury, all expenditure not seen as absolutely necessary will have to wait. It seems that a very generous benefactor is needed for this work to be completed in the near future.

 

But it is absolutely necessary.
It is Vital for the health and well being of thousands, not to mention the NRM staff moral.
the sooner it is out the sooner it will be earning.
plus the lottery commissioners may have a point to make.
The Melter

 

If the new head is from the treasury then, i fear that 4472 will just get a repaint and go on static display, and unless private money is forecoming you can forget about any NRM engines being returned to steam from now on, the important thing to any financial person will be to cut costs in what ever way they can, this only can get worse i hope that steam railway editors that have carried out a witchhunt that resulted in Steve Davis leaving feel proud of them selves , how long before they start complaining about cost cutting at NRM?

 

He is Head of Arts at the Department of Culture, Media & Sport. His civil service career has included time at the Treasury.

 

The official NRM press release states that Paul Kirkman has been seconded from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Where has this Treasury thing emerged from?
Miff has just answered my question before I posted it.

 

Wait what?! What's happened? I've been searching the Flying Scotsman and I can't find anthing in terms of news?

 

Iam just being pragmatic, someone with a treasury background is bound to be told look at the costs and reduce them to a level that is sustainable, and given the loss made on Railfest, the overspend on 4472, I would expect that some high expenditure items will be pegged back , the NRM is after all a government owned museum and as such has to spend with in what limitations are given to it by the government department that holds the purse strings .

 

Its a great shame to see Steve Davies go, he really transformed the image and identity of the NRM for me, though looking back now, even I won't deny that the NRM under his management was perhaps a little too ambitious in some respects, especially since at the end of the day we are going through a recession. Though I stand firm in saying that the museum has been made much better for it, despite the financial issues.

What really worries me now though, is what will happen to all those plans and ambitions that the museum had under Steve's tenure?

Will the proposal of having the GCR as their secondary base to operate their collection be scrapped? What of the once bright future of No. 2500, and will No. 6229 ever get her much desired return? All of it is potentially up in the air now, or dismissed all together.

The only thing we can be certain of is that 4472 will be completed, because anyone (especially a treasurer) can see that after all the money and effort that has gone into getting it in good order, it would be pure madness to stop the overhaul now, and unacceptible to enthusiasts, politicians and general public alike.

 

Although this thread is wandering a bit off topic, it's worth pointing out that there is a difference between return on capital and return on equity. Railfest may have made a loss on capital, but as an event, everyone I have spoken to about it rated it as successful. The return on it may well be intangible in terms of individuals motivated by it to get involved in railway preservation, historical research and financial support. I suspect that HM Treasury will probably be sufficiently occupied with sorting out the WCML franchise fiasco and its £50M cost to the taxpayer to be overly concerned about a couple of hundred thousand loss on a heritage event, most of which has remained within the heritage railway sector. Railfest might have broken even if the sun had shone, but the NRM could hardly have legislated for the weather!

David

 

Strictly speaking, the determining issue of completing 4472's restoration is not the sunk costs, but how much is left to go. However, there's no question in my mind that the locomotive will be completed, and given the thoroughness of the work, it should bring great pleasure to many across the UK. (Even if it's in that dreadful Apple Green! :cool1

 

Press release from the NRM today.

 

It would be interesting to read the full report.

 

THE NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM'S LONG, LONG-AWAITED INDEPENDENT REPORT INTO THE £2.7-MILLION OVERHAUL OF FLYING SCOTSMAN HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE LAST HOUR.

More details are now available at Heritage Railway Magazine | Facebook

I will be posting further extracts from the report as I digest it.