Flying Scotsman

That would need some further explanation since both 4472 and 60052 were running in 1965. But does anyone know the story of 60052's scrapping at St Margaret's shed? That seems unusual. Were some parts acquired for/by Mr Pegler?

 

Br Database says that while it was withdrawn off St Margarets, it wasn't scrapped there. It says 'Sold to P W McLellan, Langloan for scrap 20/6/66'. The story regarding 60103/60052 strikes me as nonsense.

 

Flying Scotsman ran between Swanage and Harmans Cross stations and attracted record crowds [and urgently needed profits] in the Summer of 1994.
The picture is not sufficiently clear to me to make out who is on the footplate. Roland Kennington might have been pictured - but I don't think so as he tended to use either a boiler suit [like Alan Pegler used to do] or a set of NSW railway overalls he was given whilst the loco was in Australia.
I, along with many other SR drivers, drove the loco and found it very responsive.
The low loaders brought engine and tender from the Nene Valley Railway arriving in Swanage on Friday 15th July and left from the newly opened road/rail siding at Norden in September but, unfortunately, I did not keep a note of the leaving date.
I believe the lorries may have taken engine and tender to the Llangollen Railway although I'm not entirely certain of that.

 

There have been various stories about the originality of Flying Scotsman over the years. ISTR that, during its major rebuild after the bodged job at NRM, it's original number was found stamped on parts of the brass window surrounds. Many parts may have been taken from other locos over the years, a la "Trigger's Broom", but I think it is unlikely that all of the brass cab window surrounds would have been changed.

 

IMO that story is complete and utter rubbish. 4472 was running around in private ownership while 60052 was still strutting its stuff on behalf of British railways

 

It has sometimes been suggested that no part of FS is original from the day it first rolled out of the works, but we now have a suggestion that at least some of the brass window surrounds qualify.

 

See this post from @torgormaig

https://national-preservation.com/t...ingle-chimney-poll.424568/page-4#post-1059258

I’m sure at one point he put a picture up as well but I can’t find it.

Tom

 

Here's the picture Tom - one brass window slide stamped 1472. It's not much but it is about as original as you can get

Peter

 

Either you’ve got a fantastic memory with incredible recall or you maintain an equally fantastic reference book.

 

Wiki tells us that Alan Pegler purchased the outside cylinders off 60041 Salmon Trout. I have read elsewhere that Scotsman's RH cylinder was replaced during it's preserved life.

 

Some people would restore an entire loco on the basis of that. . .

 

It's the memory thing

Tom

 

Following on from this a friend at the NRM has sent me this interesting photograph of Flying Scotsman's weigh shaft. Not only is it stamped 103 and 4472 but if you look carefully at the first 4 of 4472 you can see that it has been stamped over the number 1. This clearly suggests that the weigh shaft has been with the loco since construction at Doncaster in 1922

Thought this might be of interest

Peter

 

ELR per facebook 5-7,12-14 June 2026…not sure about the 90 minute non stop journey mentioned ..either a very slow trundle to Rawtenstall or a RHDR type loop around Rawtenstall’s Tesco ?

 

Timetable on ELR shows a 30 minute wait at Rawtenstall
https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/events-activities/flying-scotsman-at-the-elr/

https://www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-Scotsman-TT-Draft.pdf

 

Tornado and Flying Scotsman to be reunited at the GCRN in May - https://www.facebook.com/foxandedwa...DS59jaBpfWJt5js5xAbQj3cQvy7dg1ZkbwdhvTsDa2jCl
In Summary for those without facebook Access - Tornado running at the GCRN on May 16/17 while Scotsman is on static display.
Scotsman running May 23/24/25/30/31 with Tornado on static display - A1SLT indicate she will be in steam for this as well https://www.facebook.com/A1SLT/post...TR7V29poPjHqyjNuohLSvPtc4eVoNofo9RKoz3mMUsj5l
Tickets available from Fox and Edwards - £29.50 to ride behind Tornado or £60(!) to ride behind Scotsman

 

Forthcoming workings by Rail Adventure:
0Z42 0703 Kings Norton On-Track Plant Dept to Tyseley Steam Trust (2x Class 43 HST Power Cars)
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U78004/2026-03-07/detailed

5Z43 0920 Tyseley Steam Trust to Alton
2x Class 43 hauling 60103 "Flying Scotsman” [chimney first] + POB to Guildford then the two Power Cars run round.
2x Class 43 + POB + 60103 tender first (from Guildford to Alton). From Alton to proceed to Mid-Hants Railway under local arrangement.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U78005/2026-03-07/detailed

0Z44 1443 Guildford run round moves.
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U78048/2026-03-07/detailed

0Z43 1050 Alton to Kings Norton On-Track Plant Dept
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R35104/2026-03-08/detailed

 

Tbh given recent locomotive moves and the lack of TOCs willing to work with Scotsman. I wonder if in the future they won't bother having Flying Scotsman mainline certified. The main focus for Flying Scotsmans these days is heritage lines and as recent months have showed, it can easily still get there being dragged by something else. Also as many have mentioned in this thread and others there's still issues with trespass when Scotsman goes out on the network.

It's too early to fully predict these things, but I will be very intrigued what happens when Scotsman comes out of it's next overhaul.

 

I'd be as interested to see how the NRM handle the next support/run contract

 

It may be the best thing for it in the end: and if someone wants to return it to as-built condition then, it could be. Has the time come for it to return to being 4472 (was it ever 1472?) and "stuffed and mounted"?