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

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) are still hunting the trespassers - photos from the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) helicopter doing the rounds



On the BT news website

Police seek Flying Scotsman enthusiasts who trespassed on railway lines
 
Police want to identify a number of rail enthusiasts pictured trespassing on the tracks to catch a glimpse of Flying Scotsman following a decade-long refit.

Police want to identify a number of rail enthusiasts pictured trespassing on the tracks to catch a glimpse of Flying Scotsman following a decade-long refit.

Images taken from a helicopter operated by Network Rail (NR) show a number of people standing close to rail lines to watch the famous locomotive travelling between Newcastle and York.

Anyone who recognises the people in the photographs is asked to contact British Transport Police (BTP) so it can "enforce the law where appropriate".

The photographs, taken on May 14, show that repeated warnings about the dangers of getting too close to the railway are being ignored by some people.

Flying Scotsman's inaugural run on February 2 was marred by trespassers who walked along the tracks taking photographs as other trains passed on opposing lines.

All trains on the East Coast Main Line were temporarily stopped and taxpayer-funded NR was forced to pay out almost £60,000 in compensation.

Some 59 train services were delayed for a combined total of more than eight hours.

Chief inspector David Oram of BTP said people have put themselves at risk during Flying Scotsman's tour of England and Scotland despite "advice and numerous warnings".


He went on: "In order to keep the public safe we will enforce the law where appropriate, which is why we are releasing the images of people trespassing today in a bid to trace those responsible.

"If you recognise yourself or any of the people pictured in the images please contact us.

"We will continue to identify and take action against trespassers on future journeys to ensure that these pass safely and free from disruption."

Rob McIntosh, route managing director for NR, said: "While I must thank the vast majority of people who have been out to see Flying Scotsman for staying safe, it is deeply worrying to see people standing trackside.

"Tens of thousands of people have been out to see this railway icon on its tour of the country so far, but even one person trespassing is one too many.

"The threat of serious injury is real, as well as causing delays to passengers travelling on other services, and we will continue to work very closely with the British Transport Police to keep our railway safe and to make sure spectators remember their day out for all the right reasons."

Anyone who recognises the people pictured is asked to contact BTP by calling 0800 40 50 40 or texting 61016, quoting reference 314 of 2/6.

Good I say. Lessons need teaching.

[Ollie]

It's 30 mins late at the moment...16 of those minutes currently attributed to trespass

[eightf48544]

It's 30 mins late at the moment...16 of those minutes currently attributed to trespass

Oh dear that means it will be dark when it passes my house.

[Ollie]

It's got a bit of dwell time at Bristol Parkway - if it doesn't need it, could potentially be on time from Bristol. Guess it's just a case of wait and see.

[Ollie]

It's on time now

[Western Pathfinder]

I've just come home from BPW^» (Bristol Parkway - next trains) it was good to see her she left quietly in fact the brush on the back was louder than Scotsman oh well !.

[Thatcham Crossing]

Observed at Maidenhead at 2140 this evening as I was passing by on the down main.

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

Flying Scotsman timetable kept secret to deter trespassing fans


The Flying Scotsman passed through the West Country on Friday

Timetables for the Flying Scotsman will no longer be put online by an operator, in a bid to stop fans trespassing.

Hundreds of people turned out to watch the famous locomotive as it passed through the West Country on Friday.

But its journey from Gloucester to Bristol was delayed by almost an hour, due to about 50 people trespassing on the line near Cam and Dursley.

Operator Steam Dreams said it had been "advised" not to publish details of when the Scotsman was running.


Crowds gathered on bridges across the West to catch a glimpse of the famous locomotive as it thundered through


Due to dozens of people on the line in Gloucestershire, the Flying Scotsman was an hour late

British Transport Police tweeted on Friday that "numerous people on the tracks" had delayed the Flying Scotsman and advised that "that a good pic is not worth endangering your life".

The locomotive is due to make a return trip through the West on Tuesday but the operator said the timings would "not be made available online".

"In order to avoid overcrowding and incidents of trespass we have been advised not to publish recommended viewing points or the timetable of when the train will be passing through specific locations," it said in a statement.

It went on to say that it would also not be giving out "any timetable or route details" through its booking office.

Marcus Robertson, chairman of Steam Dreams, said trespassing on railways lines "to get a better photograph of a train" was "incredibly dangerous".

"Last year we did have a few problems with trespass but [on Friday] there were people with children near the line - and these are 125mph railways," he said.

"We've heard from Network Rail and the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police), and on our runs next week - in the same areas - there will be far more police activity."

[Adelante_CCT]

operator said the timings would "not be made available online".

Well I found them easy enough, but shan't post here so as not to encourage trespassing 

[JayMac]

It's all well and good the operator saying they won't publish timings but somebody should have a word with Network Rail.

The timings are in the open source data feeds provided by NR^» (Network Rail - home page) and used by many websites and apps.

I shall be out photographing Flying Scotsman on Tuesday afternoon. From a safe lineside location. If I see anyone trespassing I won't shy away from giving a bollocking and reporting to BTP^▸ (British Transport Police). And photographing them.

Oh, and can someone tell the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) to stop using the definite article when writing about the locomotive 'Flying Scotsman'. 

[TonyK]

"Flying Scotsman pursued by Flying Brits!"

This picture was taken by Christopher Caithness, who holds the copyright, and is reproduced here by his kind permission. He was flying with Paul Lee at the controls, both being members of Bristol Aero Club, now based at Gloucestershire Airport. They were in my former occasional steed G-BASJ at around 2500' above Woolaston between Chepstow and Lydney.


©2017 Christopher Caithness

[JayMac]

And David Garmston on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Points West tonight just referred to 60103 as 'The Flying Scotsman'.

Arrrgghhh.   

[TonyK]

And David Garmston on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Points West tonight just referred to 60103 as 'The Flying Scotsman'.

Arrrgghhh.   

I heard him say that, and I heard the scream as he did...

[JayMac]

Approaching Filton Abbey Wood around 20 minutes go.

[trainer]

If you wanted to know the whereabouts of this loco today it was being shared with all and sundry at Yatton station this morning (not by railway staff).  I'm sure those who want to know already do and certainly one of those throwing out the details thought the trespass thing was exaggerated and over cautious. In the light of such a cavalier attitude I choose not to pass on the information.