Flying Scotsman

I don’t think that your statement about Ian Riley’s team crewing the loco is correct. It’s the norm on any railway for that railways qualified people to drive and fire with the Rep on the footplate. That will be the case with Northern Steam, who have qualified steam crew.

 

It’s not true that, in the previous contract, “Riley’s team” would drive and fire the loco on heritage railways - at least not in our case. On both occasions FS visited, driving and firing was done by Bluebell crews, with an owner’s rep on the footplate to offer advice. I can’t see why it would be different in the new contract.

I’d say that is fairly standard for any visiting loco - the home crews drive and fire, but there is advice and support from the owner’s rep.

Tom

 

Was the same at the NVR. They provided the crews with an owner’s rep overseeing things.

 

I have no active involvement in heritage rail, so apologies if this is an obvious question, but is that because the differences between different locomotives are less consequential than the differences between lines? As in, knowing the line, the signals and hazards (eg level crossings) is a greater safety concern than differences in regulator sensitivity and the best firing technique.

 

There isn't a training programme for individual steam engines, unlike diesels: if you can drive one you can drive them all. But you're quite right that route knowledge - knowing the road - is essential.