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

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

Arse. I was to busy getting the numners write, is my excuse.

[chuffed]

Looks as if we might have to start raising 'Ein Stein' to the budding mathematicians and physicists on this forum !

Is Rick his brother? 

He'd be ' Franken' with the sign of the Fish, if he was .....




Edit note: Quote marks fixed, for clarity. CfN. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Flying Scotsman service starts on North Yorkshire Moors Railway

One of the world's most famous locomotives has started its first series of passenger journeys.

The Flying Scotsman took to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR^▸ (North Yorkshire Moors Railway)) heritage line after a decade-long, ^4.2m refit.

Its first of six daily services from Grosmont to Pickering started at 09:30 GMT with stops at Goathland, Newtondale and Levisham on route.

A total of 8,500 tickets were purchased for the sold-out locomotive service, which runs until 20 March.

Tickets were sold at ^38 for an adult and ^25 for a child for a full return journey between Grosmont and Pickering, a spokesperson for the NYMR said.

All 8,500 tickets went on sale on 26 October last year and were sold out by Christmas, they added.

NYMR declined to disclose how much money it had made from the sales, but said some of the funds would pay for the "upkeep" of its heritage line.

General Manager Chris Price said: "We're understandably incredibly excited about Flying Scotsman arriving and I'm sure that many others will be too, although we do urge anyone wanting to take photographs to do so from a safe distance and refrain from straying onto the railway itself.

"After recent events, British Transport Police has confirmed that if people are seen trespassing on the tracks, they risk being brought before the courts, a fine of ^1,000 and a criminal record."

The engine, which retired from service in 1963, has been restored for the National Railway Museum (NRM^» (National Railway Museum, at York and Shildon - about)).

It made its inaugural run last month when it travelled from London King's Cross to York before going on display at the NRM.

Thousands of rail enthusiasts flocked to see the locomotive on route with fans venturing on the tracks to catch a glimpse of the engine as it passed by. After a number of disruptions, the locomotive arrived into York an hour later than expected.

My highlighting. CfN.

[ChrisB]

Modern Railways appealed for photos of those pillocks so expect further press coverage

[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.

Glad I didn't book now. 60103 is no longer headed to Taunton and Bishop's Lydeard on that date. Her tour from London is now to Bristol then Salisbury.

Photo opportunity at Temple Meads still a goer. With the possibility of a run round utilising the triangle at Dr Days.

[PhilWakely]

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.

Glad I didn't book now. 60103 is no longer headed to Taunton and Bishop's Lydeard on that date. Her tour from London is now to Bristol then Salisbury.

That's positive news for me    I will be dropping the wife and daughter at Southampton for their cruise, so a little detour may be undertaken   

[Western Pathfinder]

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.

Glad I didn't book now. 60103 is no longer headed to Taunton and Bishop's Lydeard on that date. Her tour from London is now to Bristol then Salisbury.

Photo opportunity at Temple Meads still a goer. With the possibility of a run round utilising the triangle at Dr Days.

Do we know why this has been changed ?



Edit note: Quote marks fixed, for clarity. CfN.

[JayMac]

Engineering works in the Bristol area mean reduced pathing opportunities between Bristol and Taunton.

[Western Pathfinder]

Thanks for the update BNM .

[Western Pathfinder]

Any further news on the time that Scotsman is due ?.

[Adelante_CCT]

Any further news on the time that Scotsman is due ?.

May be hard to tell

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/14478019.Flying_Scotsman_to_travel_in_secret/

Details of Flying Scotsman's journeys on the national railway network are being kept secret for safety reasons.

Neither the National Railway Museum, which owns the iconic locomotive on behalf of the nation, and Network Rail, responsible for the railway infrastructure, will say where and when she will be.

British Transport Police have warned they are prepared to prosecute anyone who goes on the railway tracks to get a better view of her.

The decision to withhold her timetable from the public follows scenes on her return to the main line in February after a ten-year refit when people including young children risked their lives by standing on the railway line to get a better view.

Every train on the East Coast Main Line, including Flying Scotsman's, had to be stopped while the tracks were cleared, leading to 59 trains suffering more than eight hours of delays and passengers receiving nearly ^60,000 in compensation from the taxpayer.

Flying Scotsman has a busy schedule of visits to different steam railways across the country and will need to use the national network to reach them as well as pulling her own services.

Jim Lowe, head of operations at the National Railway Museum, said: "It is vital that spectators do not venture onto the railway, particularly when it is on the mainline as a full timetable of regular services will be running. In order to avoid overcrowding and incidents of trespass neither ourselves nor our partners will be publishing recommended viewing points or the timetable of when the train will be passing through specific locations ^ this includes positioning moves.

^We wish those who are taking journeys on trains hauled by the steam icon or going to see it at an event over the coming months an enjoyable experience.^

Phil Hufton, Network Rail managing director England and Wales, said: ^I cannot stress enough how dangerous it is to go onto the railway without any formal training and without permission, as well as being illegal.

"I am urging those who plan to enjoy seeing Flying Scotsman in the coming days to do so from a safe position and do not go onto the railway under any circumstances. I^d like to thank those who have observed safe practices during the Scotsman^s runs so far and ask others to follow that example.^

The only details released about Flying Scotsman's next journeys are that she will travel from York and Newcastle and back sometime on Tuesday and from York to Edinburgh sometime on Saturday.

[broadgage]

Reports on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) news site state that the upcoming steam dreams trip behind flying Scotsman has been cancelled by network rail due to "gauging issues"

[Rob on the hill]

Now back on apparently :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-36292966

[Western Pathfinder]

It would apear that Network Fail failed to gauge the size of the rolocking that they would have been in for if they had stopped this running .

[Chris from Nailsea]

From The Scotsman:

Flying Scotsman fans warned of safety crackdown during Scottish visit

Action will be taken against trespassers on rail lines during this weekend^s visit of the Flying Scotsman locomotive to Scotland and access to station platforms will be restricted because of safety fears.

The warning to steam fans from British Transport Police comes three months after it was criticised for failing to prosecute trespassers who caused major disruption to other trains on a previous Flying Scotsman run in England.

The locomotive^s first visit north of the Border for 16 years will see it arrive in Edinburgh on Saturday evening before excursions on the Borders Railway and over the Forth Bridge to Fife on Sunday.

The 93-year-old engine will also go on show at Bo^ness Station on the Bo^ness and Kinneil Railway on Monday. The number of spectators on platforms will be limited at Waverley Station in Edinburgh on Saturday, and access will be controlled at Tweedbank Station at the end of the Borders line on Sunday.

Only passengers travelling on other trains will be allowed into Dalmeny and North Queensferry stations - where photographers are likely to gather at either end of the Forth Bridge. Footbridges will be kept clear.

Crowds at other stations will be monitored, including to ensure passengers are not hampered from getting on and off other trains.

Drone operators have been warned they must not be flown within 50 metres of railway lines or bridges, or directly above tracks.

Inspector Ricky McCartney said: ^It is extremely dangerous and an offence to trespass on the railway. We will take action against those caught trespassing, and you could end up with a criminal record and facing a fine of up to ^1,000.^

Nigel Harris, managing editor of RAIL magazine, said: ^I salute and support Inspector McCartney, whose tough message is terrific to hear. Trespassing on the railway costs lives, money and wastes resources, and has to be clamped down on.^