Newly restored "Flying Scotsman" back in service - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

From burnham-on-sea(dot)com

[ellendune]

Who will be the operator?

[PhilWakely]

Who will be the operator?

According to UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Steam Info, the operator is Steam Dreams (assisted by West Coast) and shows 60103 running from Paddington to Bishops Lydeard and return - but that may change.

[grahame]

Why do they have to pick a number so similar to another one running around?   We have 60163 and now 60103 as well ... why not (in true Monty Python style) something completely different like 4472?

[PhilWakely]

Why do they have to pick a number so similar to another one running around?   We have 60163 and now 60103 as well ... why not (in true Monty Python style) something completely different like 4472?

Apparently, it is currently being restored in 'wartime black', so the number 60103 would not be appropriate in any case.

[TonyK]

I'll be home from holiday for this one.

[Red Squirrel]

Why do they have to pick a number so similar to another one running around?   We have 60163 and now 60103 as well ... why not (in true Monty Python style) something completely different like 4472?

Apparently, it is currently being restored in 'wartime black', so the number 60103 would not be appropriate in any case.

3440 is a much nicer sort of number, IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion).

Sadly I won't be able to make the date - I have a long-standing arrangement to re-index my yogurt pot lid collection.

[ellendune]

According to UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Steam Info, the operator is Steam Dreams (assisted by West Coast) and shows 60103 running from Paddington to Bishops Lydeard and return - but that may change.

I assume West Coast will still be in business...  ...i.e. it still has an operator's licence.

[JayMac]

Tried earlier to book two seats on the Bristol-Bishops Lydeard run on the 28th May. Sold out already. Have to make do with  photo opportunities on the day.

[eightf48544]

Interesting to note that Flying Scotsman was not always been an East Coast engine.

It spent 3 years from Jun 50 to Nov 53 at 38C Leicester Central on the GC^» (Great Central Railway - link to heritage line).

[PhilWakely]

I note also from UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Steam Info that Flying Scotsman is operating out of Paddington a week earlier on 21st May on the Cathedrals Express to Salisbury and Southampton (also West Coast if they havn't managed to blot their copybook in the meantime)

Then on the 5th June Paddington to Shrewsbury (via Leamington Spa) and 8th June Chester to Paddington via Hereford and Bristol Parkway.

[ChrisB]

Then on the 5th June Paddington to Shrewsbury (via Leamington Spa) and 8th June Chester to Paddington via Hereford and Bristol Parkway.

Those seem to be part of a 4 day tour, rather than day trips

[PhilWakely]

Then on the 5th June Paddington to Shrewsbury (via Leamington Spa) and 8th June Chester to Paddington via Hereford and Bristol Parkway.

Those seem to be part of a 4 day tour, rather than day trips

Indeed - days 1 and 4. Days 2 & 3 explorer the Welsh narrow gauge lines I believe

[Rhydgaled]

Why do they have to pick a number so similar to another one running around?   We have 60163 and now 60103 as well ... why not (in true Monty Python style) something completely different like 4472?

Apparently, it is currently being restored in 'wartime black', so the number 60103 would not be appropriate in any case.

It is currently running as Num. 502 in wartime black, the nameplates appear to be missing at present but sadly not the sideplates (smoke deflectors?) which in my view make it look like it wasn't a GNR/LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) design. I also think it looks wrong in BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) dark green (which it is apparently planned to go into in the near(ish?) future), if anything I think I prefer it in black to BR dark green but I'd rather it was LNER apple green. The sideplates are awful whichever livery it wears.

As well as being similar to other steam loco numbers, 60103 looks like a class 60 diesel locomotive number.

3440 is a much nicer sort of number, IMHO^▸ (in my humble opinion).

I was rather disapointed not to see 6023 on the Pembroke Coast Express last year, apparently they still haven't managed to make the King suitable for running on Network Rail metals. I'm much more interested to finally see a King in steam (in either GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) green or BR blue) than a BR dark green Gresley.

[Red Squirrel]

...I also think it looks wrong...

The trouble with the Flipping Wastomoney is that it's always wrong - you either get a combination of livery and equipment that's right but steams badly, or one that's wrong but works.