'Flying Scotsman' - merged posts

[whole diary]

[Rhydgaled]

Watched the half hour programme on FS on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) 4 last night. Some outstanding camera work using drones and very impresseive use of unusual angles. I particularly enjoyed the shots in the yard at dawn with artificial lighting adding its own special atmospheric effect, the camera in the cab with the flare from the firebox as the steam billows around and the little lad exclaimimg 'Flippin Nora, not another tunnel !' Priceless !. At the end I had a wry chuckle at the narrators name being John Shrapnel. Not something the engineers would want to hear in relation to the FS!. A great half hours viewing, shame it wasn't an hour !

Not sure Alan Pegler really would have approved as the programme claimed, he did after all convert it to a single-chymney loco and had it painted in LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) apple green. Despite that, the programme wasn't the one that made be really angry last night, that was 'Wales Today'. Very bad news.

[SandTEngineer]

Watched the half hour programme on FS on BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) 4 last night. Some outstanding camera work using drones and very impresseive use of unusual angles. I particularly enjoyed the shots in the yard at dawn with artificial lighting adding its own special atmospheric effect, the camera in the cab with the flare from the firebox as the steam billows around and the little lad exclaimimg 'Flippin Nora, not another tunnel !' Priceless !. At the end I had a wry chuckle at the narrators name being John Shrapnel. Not something the engineers would want to hear in relation to the FS!. A great half hours viewing, shame it wasn't an hour !

Not sure Alan Pegler really would have approved as the programme claimed, he did after all convert it to a single-chymney loco and had it painted in LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) apple green. Despite that, the programme wasn't the one that made be really angry last night, that was 'Wales Today'. Very bad news.

Go on then, I'll bite.  What news............

[ChrisB]

It's about time the DfTs^» (Department for Transport - about) plans for the Welsh franchise started becoming public....

[JayMac]

Which has nothing to do with Flying Scotsman.

[Rhydgaled]

Go on then, I'll bite.  What news............

Nothing to do with steam trains, so not on topic, or I probably would have posted it. I've now posted the answer to your question in another topic, where I think it will be a better fit than here.

[ChrisB]

Nor does that news that upset Rhydgaled....posted in another thread about the Newport by-pass...at least my suggestion was on-topic for this board!

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

I^ve been waiting for someone else to post about this, but obviously no-one is prepared to admit they read the Daily Mail (we only have it SO).

Last Saturday it included a full colour double page spread with an excellent cutaway drawing of Flying Scotsman, plus a view of the cab controls, with all the important bits labelled and explained.  Also details of where to see it this year.

However, the firebox is labelled as reaching 1000 1100 deg C and being made of copper, which is I think an error, not least because copper melts at 1085 deg C. 

You^ve got to admire Richard Branson for his PR^▸ (Public Relations) success.  Anyone would think it^s the only steam locomotive going.


edit  .... and there's a Haynes Manual for Flying Scotsman coming out soon.

[ChrisB]

Can this be found on their website?

[TonyK]

  .... and there's a Haynes Manual for Flying Scotsman coming out soon.

"Reassembly is a simple reversal of the process for disassembly..."

Yeah, right!

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

I've now found the Daily Mail link.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3477601/Ultimate-guide-Flying-Scotsman-4-2million-renovation-classic-locomotive-finally-tracks.html

[Red Squirrel]

However, the firebox is labelled as reaching 1000 1100 deg C and being made of copper, which is I think an error, not least because copper melts at 1085 deg C. 

The fire may reach 1900 deg C. I think the trick is to try and remember to put water in the boiler. This has two benefits: it produces steam, which is jolly good and the very thing you need in a steam engine, but it also cools the firebox and stops it from melting.

You have the same problem in jet engines,  where the turbine vanes run in gases way above their melting point.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

I hadn't realised any British locos had copper fireboxes, I'd always assumed they were steel because of the strength required. But I see from the NRM^» (National Railway Museum, at York and Shildon - about)'s Flying Scotsman Refurbishment Report that it was decided in December 2006 that a new copper firebox be built for FS. 

So apologies to the Daily Mail - I should have remembered that if I read something in the Daily Mail it must be true.

[Red Squirrel]

I hadn't realised any British locos had copper fireboxes...

Castles, Kings, panniers, prairies... quality locos...

[Rhydgaled]

I've now found the Daily Mail link.....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3477601/Ultimate-guide-Flying-Scotsman-4-2million-renovation-classic-locomotive-finally-tracks.html

If the list of upcoming tours in that article is to be believed, Flying Scotsman is to make history in June. It is listed as hauling the 'Cambrian Coast Express', which I think would make it the first steam locomotive ever to run under ERTMS^▸ (European Rail Traffic Management System. A future railway signalling system, with equipment located in the driver's cab, rather than lineside). According to the operator's website, (steam dreams, linking to their site doesn't seem to work) 2016 marks the 50th anniversary since the last Cambrian Coast Express. Elsewhere though, it sounds like the steam loco won't make it onto the Cambrian coast, with diesel haulage over that section. I'm not sure which would be more of an indignity to mark the anniversary of the named train, diesel-haulage or a locomotive from a rival railway. Surely a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) loco would be more-fitting motive power.

[grahame]

I'm not sure which would be more of an indignity to mark the anniversary of the named train, diesel-haulage or a locomotive from a rival railway. Surely a GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) loco would be more-fitting motive power.

Whilst it would be nice to re-enact a run from the peak of the service or from the final days, surely we should celebrate the survival of the ability to run service(s) to Aberystwyth, Tywyn, Barmouth, Harlech, Porthmadog, Criccieth and Pwllheli at all ... much more about modern times?

If stock availability could be arranged (!), an ERTMS^▸ (European Rail Traffic Management System. A future railway signalling system, with equipment located in the driver's cab, rather than lineside) fitted 158 could perhaps provide a Paddington to Pwllheli service ...