Flying Scotsman trips

DeanGoods · Post by **DeanGoods** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 8:57 am

Wait for a year and then my return trip on Scotsman is cancelled cos York station woz closed

JonPotter · Post by **JonPotter** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 9:03 am

I'm meant to be riding on Scotsman in the last week of August - just hope its that Black 5 - or even better a Hall (except 5972)

spartacus · Post by **spartacus** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 12:37 pm

Can I ask why you've booked to travel behind Scotsman if you'd prefer a Hall? Why not the Shakespeare or Bullring Expresses?

The Scotsman's reliability is terrible, due to previous owner's policy of 'patch it up and get it back out earning'. Hopefully when Bittern, Sir Nigel, and even Tornado are operational, the NRM will see sense and give Flying Scotsman a good rest, possibly of up to 10 years, and give her a good rebuild (as well as deciding on a true livery/blastpipe/deflector/whistle arrangement).

She's had one major rebuilt in her lifetime, from an A1 boiler to A3, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to put her on static display, with work done on her mechanical parts, most of which are not visible, and in the meantime construct a new boiler/smokebox/firebox (A1 or A3, depending on livery choice), and any other parts that are worn out.

As a member of the national collection, with a great interest which extends beyond rail fans I doubt raising the finances over an extended period of time would be difficult, and at the end she'd finally be reliable!

NRM: Be different and take her out of service to do a proper job of the repairs!

DeanGoods · Post by **DeanGoods** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 2:00 pm

theyre givin it a A3 boiler in its overhaul now and an A3 whistle

JonPotter · Post by **JonPotter** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 4:16 pm

Firstly - we're staying up there - I do quite like A3's really

I think Scotsman will be a strong and reliable performer if the NRM restore it well, and look after it in a proper fashion. The worst thing that could happen to Scotsman is it ending up like Mallard or the Duchess. Mind you, the A3 is the only one of its kind left, so if the NRM have any sense they'll keep it running until 2038 when it can do a double headed run over Stoke Bank with Mallard!