Flying Scotsman

Indeed, and like every other Family 10 I've ever seen in glorious 50s beige. I'd be sorely tempted but I don't think I can afford a divorce...

 

At the moment it'd be a step too far for me.

 

I saw activity on this thread and thought there might be information about 60103. But no, old car waffle.

I’ve heard rumours that Northern Steam are in discussions with DB, regarding mainline operation of 60103.

 

Can you just conferm, that you did mean to post 60163, and not 60103? or is the A1 trust, sub- contracting out Tornado to Northern Steam, for its mainline operations and maintaince, if so, that will be sure to upset a few people, as Northern steam does not have prior experience in main line operations, do they?

 

I have changed one 6 to a 0.

 

I thought DB no longer did Steam on the mainline? I realise Scotsman would be a fairly big carrot but still... is it worth all the paperwork for one engine?

 

They do the Belmond with steam, but no other steam charters at present.

Dave B

 

Rumours of DB stopping steam work, or DB losing the British Pullman contract to GBRf, were circulating for most of 2024.

Meanwhile, business as usual for the British Pullman:-
https://www.belmond.com/trains/euro...2&departureDate=2025-04-10&packageCode=PSGAOT

 

Ah, thanks for putting me straight there.

 

https://nvr.org.uk/product.php/563/...F4L7w5l1bHk-DeTpsQ_aem_iaRYotyiR1MGesIXtonvng

First visit booked - NVR in Feb/March.

 

I would have thought the biggest blocker for DB (other than ECS moves) would be stock. I understood there was some sort of relationship with Riviera in the past but all those coaches are now at 10A. I would have thought a DB crewed loco hauling WCRC stock may be as likely as me winning the Euromillions, but who knows.

 

WCR have recently hired a set of coaches to a railtour promoter for a tour operated by Rail Adventure.
So it’s not beyond possibility.

At least DB did not rush to distance themselves from the ex Riviera Mk2s, when Riviera sold them to WCR, unlike a certain other operator.

 

Latest edition of Trackside Magazine quotes David Smith saying that WCRC won’t be operating 60103 in the future. Seems like only DB Cargo are interested with LSL and Vintage Trains also ruling themselves out. West Coast’s sticking point seems to be the NRM’s decision to move on from Riley’s to Northern Steam with Northern Steam’s lack of experience in mainline operations being the issue.

 

In which case I will be interested to see how Scotsman moves to Wansford for her upcoming booking at the Nene Valley - on the network under her own steam? Dragged by a diesel? Or on the back of a lorry?

 

Steam Railway last week had Richard Corser saying he was hopeful it would move under its own steam if they were operating it and that towing it behind a diesel was plan B.

 

With the current management at the NRM and the questionable/ poor decisions that they are making it is easy to see Flying Scotsman being plinthed and bringing an end to NRM mainline operations.

 

It doesn't surprise me, sadly.

Oh well, at least if it gets plinthed in York/Shildon it'll put an end to all the mass trespass that has to be dealt with when it goes mainline... but it'll be yet another LNER locomotive gone from the mainline scene.

 

How did the new ops manager get the contract if they couldn’t demonstrate a path to mainline operations? Do they have established operations on the mainline already?

 

In short no, they don't have any mainline operations or preserved line operations as far as i am aware

 

I suspect that unless they are quietly fitting it with air brakes as part of the overhaul at Carnforth as we speak, you could add the K1 to that list as well.