Any word on what's going on with this beauty? I know she was unveiled to the public in 2011, but a lot of issues were discovered after she was taken off display. Any updates?

NRM set itself firm goals for the steam trials and first runs:
http://www.heritagerailway.co.uk/news/f ... ates-named

More importantly in UP's 150th year, why is Challenger still not running.....of all the loco's to celebrate this huge anniversary ?


Dave Tibbs

Not sure, but that was not the question I asked for this post.

What makes one locomotive more important than another? This news of the Flying Scotsman should be celebrated, not put down in favor of a "better" engine. It seems odd that you bring this up in a discussion about the Brit's beloved Scotsman.

Apologies for the poor wording and the Challenger post on behalf of my friend Dave. To get back to the original question Flying Scotsman is having new horn ties made for the horn guides according to the latest NRM report, this prevented its appearance at the Barrow Hill roundhouse open weekend when it was due to appear with Mallard, Bittern Tornado, Green Arrow and Atlantic 251. It is still on target to carry the Olympic torch this summer.

Mike P

Well, as far as I know, the Scotsman was not used during the Olympics. More problems arose, I'm guessing?

It appeared at Railfest 2012, but has now returned to Riley's for continuation of its overhaul, with bogie stretcher work and cylinder work, superheater work, smokebox pipework, and conducting tests on the superheater header, elements and main pipe. The restoration cost has quadrupled from 750,000 pounds estimate to nearly 3 million and five years late, wisely no completion date has been announced.

Mike Pannell

What the heck is bogie stretcher work?

Better translate i guess. Bogie = front truck...Stretcher is probably the bogie bracing between the frames.

Mike Pannell

I saw the Flying Scotsman, and got a cab tour, in Dallas in 1970. I had just turned 5-years old. My dad wanted me to see a real steam locomotive in operation, since I was already a little train fan.

The cab was hissing and crackling and the fire was roaring and giving off so much heat that it really scared me when the fireman opened the firebox door to show me the fire, and when all that radiant heat hit me right on the face and I nearly jumped out of the thing. Everyone had a great laughed at my expense.

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth28622/

I was in the cab around the same time although I am a bit older. They were getting ready to head off for Ft. Worth, and the British driver was explaining to the T&P fireman what his duties were. He looked a bit out of shape and may have never worked a steam locomotive. He kept asking things like, "how much coal did you say will this thing will burn?" He looked a bit ill.

Glen Brewer
Railroad Glory Days

Citing the September issue of Railway Magazine:



I can also point out that NRM director Steve Davies has just resigned effective 19 September to take a position in private industry, departing at the end of October. The slow work on the restoration of 4472 is not going unnoticed, with Steam Railway Magazine apparently doing a two-part article by David Wilcock on the "controversy" over 4472's "troubled overhaul," in a periodical judged by many to engage in overly dramatic and sensationalistic coverage of its subjects for the sake of sales.

If you are retired and have little else to do, there's this thread on the loco's overhaul at the National Preservation forum that has been going on for well over two years and 1,720 posts: http://railways.national-preservation.c ... dates.html

Suffice it to say that, on the one hand, this has some hallmarks of the "controversial" Pacific restoration on "this side of the pond," PRR 1361, insofar as arousing rumours, controversy, cries of "wasted money" and "someone should be fired." However, in comparison to the "Altoona Albatross," this restoration/overhaul has hit nowhere near the same degree of delay or mismanagement, as far as my own reviews of the 4472 saga go--and I speak as someone who has "wasted" his own money on (i.e. donated to) the preservation/restoration of both locomotives in question.

Meanwhile, here's a chance for you to try your own hand at this kind of fun:
http://discoverlivesteam.com/discoverfo ... /index.htm

Probably a great example of how projects can grow beyond their original scope as additional conditions are discovered during their execution. Anybody unable to understand this is clearly also inexperienced with steam locomotive overhauls..... and therefore has no basis on which to form a meaningful opinion.

The best news is that once done it will be in like new (or better) condition.

dave

Just a note from your moderator. I'm getting red flags already. Please keep within the guidelines.