Flying Scotsman is back :)

At the risk of being called a bit of an anorak......

I think it's absolutely brilliant that the Flying Scotsman is coming back into service after a major refurb 10 years in the making.....

This is her on her last visit to Kidderminster in the late 90's.....



She'll be back here in September with another oldie, the Tornado....

 

This is delightful news. My friend in the home is a railway buff and I will pass this information on to him.

He has a collection of books about railways, trains etc, that is astonishing. He wants me to find an appreciative home for them when he passes.

 

"Anorak" husband has already been on a journey with her. He has a pal who writes for a railway magazine and got a VIP ticket. No doubt it will be the 1st of many trips he'll take.

 

Was he one if the lucky ones today Silu, from London to Doncaster and York ?

She was a regular visitor here on the SVR during the 80's and 90's, but I think now that more time has passed and she's coming up to her 100th birthday she'll only be doing special journeys at premium prices. Already the September visit is sold out and I only found out about it today.

 

Didnt it come to a halt today for some reason i missed.Too many anoracks were tresspassing on the lines to get a look causing delays to the train ? I might be wrong as i just missed most news today.

 

Yeah, Wee Tam that's what happened, and there was trouble with the BBC helicopter following it going too low ( that wasn't reported on the news though hahaha ).

 

Yes he was @Anthony Rogers. After the journey he high tailed it up to The Scottish National Exhibition centre to help play with (oh sorry run!) 1 of the model railway exhibits on show over this weekend. Is this beginning to paint a picture of my husband's hobby......more like an addiction! I did have a rather nice spare double bedroom until an ENORMOUS model railway was built in it.

 

Not an anorak myself but Uncle Tom is a train enthusiast! My childhood was mainly spent watching/filming & riding on steam trains it was wonderful.
I'm pleased to tell you that I've been on the footplate of the Flying Scotsman the engine driver was very interesting & talked me through how the engine works. The main thing I remember is the heat from the fire & the engine drivers filthy hands from shovelling the coal!
Probably my two favourite trains are The Flying Scotsman & The Mallard. (Starting to sound like an anorak!)
Uncle Tom bought us a pair of goggles each so when we looked out of the window we didn't get 'smuts' in our eyes, I can also remember the 'smuts' getting caught in my hair!
We once stayed in a lovely cottage in Yorkshire, the view fromUncle Toms bedroom window was lovely but of course included a railway bridge so he could watch the trains!
Best I stop here I could go on forever!

 

No @JWK he was on the train, did see the above being mentioned on Breakfast TV just a few minutes ago

 

Just Noticed This Post..
The Flying Scotsman, A Class 3 Pacific Steam Locomotive, now that brings back some memories.
I worked on the Railways as a Fireman way back in the late 50s early 60s,(I'm now an old git)..
I was firing mostly main line on Goods and Passenger steam locomotives.
We had a run that we used to do,it was a goods train from Glasgow to Carlisle.
Normally stay the night at Carlisle and return the next day, on the 'cushions', as passenger back to Scotland.
As it happened the Driver and I reported to the time office about our return journey.
I was informed by the Clerk in the office ,due to the Flying Scotsman's fireman taking unwell I would be required to fire the Scotsman back to Scotland!.
The clerks words," Well you are going that way anyhow,just stand on the platform and wait for the train coming in to take over your duties as fireman"..

I could not get over the difference in the size of the Scotsman's Cab/Footplate compared to the Black 5 engines I was familiar with in Scotland.
The fire box was a large square fire box which had to be fired differently from the Long Narrow Fire box on the Black 5s.
The coal tender was further from the fire box on the Scotsman,being a larger engine and footplate it was 2 steps from tender to fire box when firing,black 5 was only one step a lot more effort to fire..

It was a Fantastic Steam Engine,which steamed as sweet as a nut compared to some of the old steam engines I had fired from our Steam Shed.

It is an experience to remember and NEVER to forget.

I lost a few pounds that day, (Not In Money)..

 

2017 dates and locations http://www.steamdreams.co.uk/Execut...Code=DD&SS=SDSVR01\&DB=SteamDreams&Division=A


@JWK it's going to Guildford

Also visiting 11 miles from me, but will prefer the West Somerset Railway trip