South Western Railways says it wasn't to blame for blocking Flying Scotsman view

[whole diary]

[Surrey 455]

From Daily Echo

A RAILWAY firm has apologised to Flying Scotsman fans after their view of the locomotive was blocked – but blamed the Scotsman for running late.

Hundreds of train lovers were left frustrated by the incident at Romsey station, where the famous engine was blocked by a South Western Railway service.

Many trainspotters had come from miles around to get a glimpse of the 96-year-old train, waiting up to 45 minutes.

A South Western Railway spokesperson told the Daily Echo that the incident happened due to the Scotsman running behind schedule.

The spokesperson said: "We are sorry that our scheduled service blocked the view of those hoping to see the Flying Scotsman.

"Sadly the Scotsman was running late so arrived at Romsey at the same time as our train."

Due to the historic train being delayed, the South Western Railway service from Cardiff to Southampton stopped the same moment the eagerly anticipated Scotsman came flying through at 10.20am on April 12.

Following the incident photographer Mark Cross, 59, told the Daily Echo: As I waited I joked 'if it doesn't hurry up another train is going to come', and then this train started to pull in.

"Lo and behold there was a cloud of steam and the Flying Scotsman flew through the station.

"There were a lot of groans on the left platform - a lot of people were left disappointed.

"They had been waiting there with their equipment, everyone was set up to take pictures of the Scotsman, there were people with stepladders and everything."

The Flying Scotsman locomotive was built in Doncaster in 1923 and became the first locomotive of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway (LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about)), running the express passenger service between Edinburgh and London.

It is currently on a tour of the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).

SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) operate to Cardiff do they? 

Now I am sure I have seen a very similar story here involving Virgin but I can't find it now.

[MVR S&T]

And they all had paid for platform tickets....

[didcotdean]

Now I am sure I have seen a very similar story here involving Virgin but I can't find it now.

Probably this one [BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)], although at least in that case both trains were on the move.

[JayMac]

SWR^» (South Western Railway - about)/SWT^▸ (South West Trains) have form for daring to operate their scheduled services for the benefit of passengers rather than kettle spotters.

[rogerw]

Its a risk you always take if you choose to stand on the opposite platform to get a better view

[RichardB]

In a similar vein, a few years ago, the Plymouth Herald printed a letter from a lady in Ivybridge complaining that she had taken a grandchild to Ivybridge station to see Flying Scotsman haul a train heading west but that when the train went through the station, it was going too fast and had black (not white) smoke.  She thought it was terrible that no-one had considered the people on the station...……..

[TaplowGreen]

In a similar vein, a few years ago, the Plymouth Herald printed a letter from a lady in Ivybridge complaining that she had taken a grandchild to Ivybridge station to see Flying Scotsman haul a train heading west but that when the train went through the station, it was going too fast and had black (not white) smoke.  She thought it was terrible that no-one had considered the people on the station...……..

Did it have any "Extinction Rebellion" protesters glued to it?

[PhilWakely]

IIRC^▸ ('if I recall/remember/read correctly'), Cornwall Live also ran an article, complete with pictures, when a late running, London-bound GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) service pulled into one of the stations in west Cornwall at the same time as Flying Scotsman sped through with a special from Plymouth to Penzance last year.

** edit ** Found it!

[broadgage]

The place to admire steamers is on a heritage line.
The odd chance view of a steam hauled charter on the national network is a pleasing bonus, but is NOT an entitlement.

[Robin Summerhill]

And they all had paid for platform tickets....

Not unless they've installed gate lines since that last time I was there!

[Robin Summerhill]

From Daily Echo

...the South Western Railway service from Cardiff to Southampton...

SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) operate to Cardiff do they? 

I suspect its typical sloppy journalism. As we all know, nobody runs trains regularly from Cardiff to Southampton. GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) runs Cardiff to Pompey and SWR runs Salisbury to Romsey via Southampton.

The trouble is the journalist clearly doesn't know that and hasn't bothered to find out.

And that's why I say "typical sloppy journalism" - many of them concentrate on what will sell the paper than bother to get the finer details right. I have never - ever - read a newspaper article about something I know a lot about and/or have been deeply involved in, that has got all of the facts 100% correct.

[Surrey 455]

And another obstructed view had been posted on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/katharinerudden/status/1126575207601377282?s=09