Cath Ex - Flying Scotsman - 21/05/16

Ventured to Redbridge today and whilst en route to the station the roads around the junction and alongside the line itself were absolutely heaving! So much so my wife commented on the fact that she didn't think it was going to be as busy as it was! When we arrived at the station (were I parked outside of), people walking past were telling me that it was going past at 15:40 so "joe public" clearly knew timings. So much so for keeping things hush hush?

We then went to Mottisfont and Dunbridge and someone had seen sense and opened up a car parking area right next to the station which stopped the road getting congested, well done to whoever that was! 60103 almost caught us out as she was 12 early at that point, so we just made it onto the station after rushing out of the car. Well done to the wife for checking Realtime Trains, they have their plus points!

Overall and reading the posts on here thus far, it sounds as though the plan to keep things quiet have totally back fired. Local radio stations have been announcing that Scotsman will be making its way around Hampshire since Friday afternoon after it was confirmed it was heading south. The hype of the engine really has caught the public imagination, and will do even more after Scotsman's appearance in the new Thomas movie, which isn't actually too bad after watching it this morning before heading off out to see the real thing!

The weather really didn't deter anyone today at all!

To use a quote from Dads Army "You stupid boy Pike!" As Hatherton Hall has stated earlier in the thread, to see young children and adults with excitement all over their faces was something to be hold today, yes a few idiotic morons will take the wee wee but it was good to hear the BTP were on the ball today, the amount in the support coach proved that! The good will surely outweigh the bad and can only be a good thing for main line steam in general.

 

Went to Mortimer for the return journey. I think the whole Village turned out to see her tonight. The guy I was talking to while waiting was a resident and he said that news of Scotsman's visit had gone around the Village during the day. The weather certainly did not deter the Villagers. There was a monsoon at one point and people were still turning up. There were even two GWR staff sent to the station to control the crowd.
Disappointing run through by 60103. Scotsman was coasting. I think she was being shoved again as she was running late.
I will post my pictures and video tomorrow as I am soaking wet as the footbridge I stood under was not a good shelter from the rain. Doh!

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

Sorry 34098, I think you may well be in a minority there...I was at Newbury Racecourse this morning with probably around 70/100 others, in my family 3 generations stood side by side (while a fourth would of been looking down) and all around us were other families all exactly the same. Flying Scotsman has a unique draw to it quite unlike any other steam locomotive in the world, just look at the weather today it didn't need to be nice, the British public were out in force, everybody smiling a distinct feel good factor, this can only be achieved with it running on the main line, a Steam Locomotive lives and breathes don't leave it standing cold and silent, gathering dust in a museum!

Yes I understand the fear of somebody getting hurt and the potential for an outright steam ban impacting the whole mainline steam movement but it's no reason to withdraw the loco and send her to permanent retirement.

 

In atrocious conditions, 60103 gets away from Basingstoke this evening:

 

for some strange reason seeing FS in her undoubted splendour brings a tear to the eye - her magnificence (is that a word) shouldn't be denied to those who wish to admire her in her natural habitat. it just needs to be managed better.

we can do it for example for red squirrels, ospreys and many others, and they are a lot more unpredictable than a timetabled locomotive

 

I'll add to the POSITIVE comments; hundreds on Twyford station in gathering gloom for her to surprise many by using the Up fast ( because running late and turbo using the relief) , but wonderful sight and sound

 

For some reason on the approach to Iver they shut her off, even though she had double greens & then opened her up half way through, so didn't get the images I was hoping for - hey ho.

 

Racing through the rain at Andover...



I first saw FS at Andover back in 2000, when I was only 5. 16 years later, it certainly brought a lump to the throat as she raced through.

James

 

Here's a couple from Midgham, one leaving Newbury Racecourse and one arriving at Salisbury (the first time).

Another vote for happy, smiley, informed people turning out to watch.

60103 Flying Scotsman at Midgham, Berks

60103 Flying Scotsman at Midgham, Berks

60103 Flying Scotsman at Newbury

60103 Flying Scotsman arriving at Salisbury

 

A soggy Scotsman in the rapidly fading light, at Iver.

Just being opened up from a trundle............ https://www.flickr.com/photos/duty_druid/27156345155/in/dateposted-public/

 

Footage of Scotsman on tour today. Captured ascending Savernake, and racing past East Grimstead and Andover in less than appealing weather. Enjoy!

 

Missed it by seconds at Reading West tonight. Walking down the slope from Tilehurst Road Bridge when I heard something going past.
Thought is was a freight at first but just glimpsed the coaches through the trees & the mobile Union Jack on the back!
Totally missed FS though.

 

Iver, Crofton, Dean, Dean, Overton.



A long wet wet day. Iver was pretty deserted, and tried to catch us out by switching to the fast, so not optimal positioning for the shot. Clearly word spread during the day, as large crowds were the order of the day. The afternoon cream tea tour was heavily, and well marshalled and policed, I saw staff at every foot / road crossing along the way, with staff on all stations. The return to Paddington less so, where again despite the now very heavy rain, massive crowds swarmed out.

Edit, just noticed the dick head, thats caused the stop, you can just a see a torso, head, flat cap and waving IPAD in the undergrowth track side just before the train stops. Lord knows how he got there, he didn't go down the platform slope.

 

It has certainly been an emotional day for many people today.
When I took the picture at Theale this morning I felt a tear forming in my eye when the crowd starting whooping and cheering.
It is very evident that there is a lot of affection from the British Public for the grand old lady 60103. If the NRM ever questioned the decision that they made to buy her in 2004 I think they have been completely reassured by the phenomenonal public response this year. I have been astounded by the turnout of people today. At Mortimer this evening they just kept on coming right up to when she passed through. Again the crowd cheered and waved as 60103 rushed through in the pouring rain. I was soaked through but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
At Theale people were still arriving after she had been through and I had to tell a few disappointed folks that they had missed her.

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

 

Just clipped a zoom of the trespasser at Overton tonight

 

Sorry folks, but ultimately it's just another steam loco. There is ABSOLUTELY no excuse for trespass to see it. Whilst today seems, from the updates I've seen, to have been better that others there were still some trespass incidents. Is that "perfect" picture really worth it? Is getting your 5 year old grandson mown down by another train while walking along the railway to "get a better look" a good prospect. Get the message out there people - stay safe. Fences are there for a reason as are yellow lines on platforms. And foot crossings shouldn't have photographers on as trains are approaching - they should be behind the gate. Like it or not the authorities are watching and will keep tightening up if things don't improve. For now it's only Scotsman times that are suppressed until a couple of hours before it runs. Keep taking the rope and hanging yourselves and it'll be all charters and STP/VSTP moves.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

Did they get knicked? In the full video looks like police on the platform when the train got going again.

 

Seems the general public were not inconvenienced by the suppression by NR of the running times and on the whole were very well behaved. Not only that but I doubt Mr. and Mrs. Smith with their 2.4 kids are reading this forum so save some electrons. The media seem to have done a good job in spreading the word about not trespassing and that's from where the general public will get the message.

 

Equally the authorities need to get real, trespassing is wrong, but some of what is being highlighted in photos on here does not appear dangerous, wrong yes, dangerous no. There are plenty of places local to me where I could (but don't) trespass in perfect safety.

Equally I have seen idiots trespassing dangerously. Worst back in the 80s when a shout from me stopped some idiot being killed. Tripod set up in the down main of the old Selby line, back to traffic not realising 2 into 4 meant the line he was standing on was still live. He was off the line about 30 secs before the Deltic express would have wiped him out.

The hysteria is just that, hysteria and the H&S brigade are as bad in their overreaction as the nutters in the crowds. Could have gone out to see Scotsman today, what was the point, anywhere accessible would have been rammed. The two hour drive to the route would not have generated a pleasant experience. Far happier to go to my local line and enjoy a steam loco in pleasant circumstances instead.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk