Strathspey Railway: Aviemore - Boat of Garten - Broomhill

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

It's a collision during a shunting move

My observations / opinions -
There seemed to be quite a number of people in the cab
Lack of a "Shunter" on the ground to hand signal the movement especially with a tender leading
Loco should have stopped short a chain or so short and then moved at less than walking pace

I wonder if the RIAB and ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road, formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) report may recommend passengers should be de trained during such moves and certainly no one should be on an coach observation platform

[Red Squirrel]

I've found a better video of Flying the Scotsman's incident here: https://twitter.com/i/status/1708445350942400697

[eXPassenger]

I've found a better video of Flying the Scotsman's incident here: https://twitter.com/i/status/1708445350942400697

LOL^▸ ('laughing out loud')

[RichardB]

I was amazed to see people on the observation balcony at the back of the train as the loco shunted back on to the stock.  Sad to hear of the injuries and good that no-one was badly injured.

Thankfully the Coronation Beavertail Observation Car wasn't at that end of the train.  That doesn't bear thinking about.

[Oxonhutch]

I am a qualified shunter on my heritage railway and I think, looking at the speed he was travelling, that he never saw the train that he hit. Maybe he was looking for the shunter (who wasn't there) to stop him short, and bring him on. Another possibility is that he was actually running around his train and got routed back on to it by mistake.

[Red Squirrel]

Another video, this time with the real Flying the Scotsman: https://twitter.com/i/status/1708921216923205639

[Mark A]

Salutory that the camera person calmly stood and filmed that without so much as a flinch until they were knocked off their feet. Sort of passivated by watching it on screen as they filmed perhaps.

Mark

[grahame]

Accident report published. BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) Reports

Accident investigators have criticised a railway company over a collision in the Highlands involving the Flying Scotsman steam locomotive.

Two passengers were hurt when the locomotive reversed into its coaches at low speed, on the private Strathspey railway in Aviemore in September last year

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) said the driver was not aware of how close the coaches were to Flying Scotsman and did not control its speed accordingly.

The RAIB said Strathspey Railway Company’s "ineffective management" of the locomotive's visit to the line was an underlying factor. The firm said it accepted the findings.

[Chris from Nailsea]

The full report from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB^▸ (Rail Accident Investigation Branch)) is available on their website, at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/report-092024-collision-at-aviemore-station-on-the-strathspey-railway .

[Chris from Nailsea]

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

'The Traitors railway' buys North Yorkshire Moors locomotive

[Image from here is not available to guests]
The locomotive is nicknamed the "Pocket Rocket" - Image © Andrew Jeffery

A heritage railway used as a location for The Traitors has bought a new locomotive.

Aviemore-based Strathspey Railway has appeared in three series of the reality TV^▸ (Thames Valley, or TeleVision, depending on context) show, which is filmed at Ardross Castle near Alness.

The volunteer-run company has purchased a steam loco nicknamed the "Pocket Rocket" from North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR^▸ (North Yorkshire Moors Railway - heritage line)).

Officially known as British Railways Standard Class 4MT 2-6-0 No 76079, it requires a full overhaul before being put to use on Strathspey's 10-mile (16km) route between Aviemore and Broomhill, via Boat of Garten.

The locomotive was built at Horwich Works, near Bolton, in 1957. It had hauled services between Grosmont and Whitby on the Esk Valley Line.

NYMR chief executive Laura Strangeway said the Highland railway was a "fitting new home" for No 76079.

Strathspey Railway director Gordon Kirk added: "She is a locomotive with real character and main line pedigree, and we look forward to undertaking the work needed to return her to steam for the enjoyment of visitors to the Highlands for many years to come."

Last year, a mystery American donor gave £1m to Strathspey Railway. The company said the "exceptionally generous" gift would help cover costs for operating and refurbishing its locomotives.

As well as featuring in The Traitors, the railway appeared on screen in the BBC drama Monarch of the Glen and ITV's Doctor Findlay.