Flying Scotsman restoration announcement

CalderRail · 29 Oct 2013

emailed to me by a friend at NRM:

Paul Kirkman said:
Flying Scotsman contractor announcement National Railway Museum

Colleagues

After a contract was signed late yesterday, we are announcing the appointment of Riley & Son to complete the work on Flying Scotsman. They will also manage the operation of the locomotive for the first two years as part of a commercial partnership agreement. I have copied below our press release relating to this appointment, which has been published this afternoon.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind staff that all communication with the media must be through the museums press office. Please pass any enquiries on this matter to the press office on 01904 686281.

Paul

Paul Kirkman

Director

National Railway Museum

FLYING SCOTSMAN RESTORATION UPDATE

The National Railway Museum has today announced that work to complete the restoration to mainline operation of the iconic locomotive Flying Scotsman, will be undertaken by Riley & Son (E), Bury. The locomotive is moving from York to Bury today.

The announcement comes during the Museums Autumn Great Gathering showcase, a celebration of another Gresley-designed steam giant, the worlds fastest locomotive Mallard which broke the world speed record 75 years ago. The dazzling display of all six survivors of Gresleys A4 class pulled in 20,000 visitors in its opening weekend.

Taking the advice of engineering specialists First Class Partnerships, a decision was made earlier this year to complete the remaining stages of the project using an external contractor and tenders were sought. Riley & Son (E), Bury, were appointed as an outcome of their successful bid to take on this high profile project making a 1920s locomotive, the sole survivor of the A3 class, fit to operate within the stringent requirements of todays modern railway network.

Paul Kirkman, Director of the National Railway Museum, commented:

We are pleased to have appointed a contractor with the specialist skills and expertise required for the final stages of the project. We are now progressing cautiously towards completing the restoration, subject to reviewing the condition of the main side frames. We are currently showcasing British engineering genius, with our Mallard 75 Autumn Great Gathering celebration so its great that we can now announce the next step for another Gresley-designed icon. Now contracts are signed, Flying Scotsman will leave our museum for Bury so work can commence as soon as possible.

Ian Riley, Director of Riley & Sons, added:

We have been closely involved with this complex project to restore this iconic locomotive to working order. We are delighted to have been selected to work together with the museum to see the restoration through to completion and its first two years of operation.

The remaining works that will be undertaken at Bury include the alignment of the middle steam cylinder. All three steam cylinders are also currently oversize and need to be fitted with new liners and rebored to a nominal 19 inch diameter. This corrective work on the boiler means that it will have to be separated from the chassis of the well-known locomotive.

There is a small section of the main side frames that cannot be examined until the steam cylinders are removed. A final assessment of the viability of the restoration will be made once the condition of this final piece of the locomotive is known.

First Class Partnerships will continue to provide specialist engineering and project management advice to the museum.

The timescales involved with the remaining stages mean that Flying Scotsman will not operate on the mainline before Summer 2015.

Once the return to mainline operation is complete, a commercial partnership agreement has been reached, under which Riley & Sons will manage the operation of the locomotive for a period of two years. This will include a programme of ongoing maintenance and helping to resolve any issues that may arise.

For more information about Flying Scotsman please visit www.nrm.org.uk/flyingscotsman.

RailUK Forums

Darren R · 29 Oct 2013

Just read this story on Railway Herald's website - was going to post the news but beaten to it!

Link: http://railwayherald.com/uknews/flying-scotsman-goes-to-bury-for-completion-of-overhaul
The article itself is the text of the press release as quoted in full above, but there is an up-to-date photograph of Scotsman - looking rather forlorn in matt black and with the driving rods missing!

mackeral1234 · 1 Nov 2013

Darren R said:
Just read this story on Railway Herald's website - was going to post the news but beaten to it!

Link: http://railwayherald.com/uknews/flying-scotsman-goes-to-bury-for-completion-of-overhaul
The article itself is the text of the press release as quoted in full above, but there is an up-to-date photograph of Scotsman - looking rather forlorn in matt black and with the driving rods missing!

I was at NRM yesterday for the Great Gathering 2 and noticed the driving rods in the workshop.

But I also noticed a spare cab and a boiler in workshop - who do these belong to?

Peter Mugridge · 1 Nov 2013

Could that be the boiler that was removed from Scotsman some time ago?

Monty · 1 Nov 2013

The 'A4' boiler that Scotman used prior to her protracted overhaul was sold as a spare for either Bittern or Union of South Africa I think, not sure of which to be honest.

jamieP · 2 Nov 2013

Monty said:
The 'A4' boiler that Scotman used prior to her protracted overhaul was sold as a spare for either Bittern or Union of South Africa I think, not sure of which to be honest.

It was for Bittern.

Monty · 2 Nov 2013

jamieP said:
It was for Bittern.

Thanks, I had thought it was sold to Jeremy Hosking, but I wasn't sure.

ian1944 · 3 Nov 2013

Darren R said:
Just read this story on Railway Herald's website - was going to post the news but beaten to it!

Link: http://railwayherald.com/uknews/flying-scotsman-goes-to-bury-for-completion-of-overhaul
The article itself is the text of the press release as quoted in full above, but there is an up-to-date photograph of Scotsman - looking rather forlorn in matt black and with the driving rods missing!

What is the significance of the number 103 on the cab?

Railcar B · 3 Nov 2013

ian1944 said:
What is the significance of the number 103 on the cab?

103 is the number "Flying Scotsman" was given under the LNER's 1946 renumbering scheme, which it carried until nationalisation when BR added 60000 to existing LNER numbers giving "Flying Scotsman" it's BR number 60103. What it certainly didn't have in 1946 was a double chimney, or German style smoke deflectors; these were a late-1950s BR development.

ian1944 · 4 Nov 2013

So it's anybody's guess what number will be carried after restoration, 4472, 103 or 60103? And in what colour scheme? Practically the whole world sees the loco as 4472 in apple green, so it would seem perverse to deviate from this.

nxea321446 · 4 Nov 2013

i asked someone at the nrm about what colour she will be painted into and what number she will carry and they said she will recieve apple green again and will also carry the number 4472 again

Tiny Tim · 5 Nov 2013

It seems to me that the arrangement with Riley's to run Scotsman for the first two years is a bit of a blow for the NRM. Obviously it makes sense for Riley's to oversee her initial 'running in', but I can't help feeling that the NRM is being punished a bit for their mishandling of the project.

zn1 · 5 Nov 2013

Im not a great lover 4472 Flying scotsman, hes had more owners than one of Arthur daleys second hand cars.

It annoys the ratners out of me to see yet More money being wasted and thrown at this Kettle, They could have built a brand new loco with the money chucked at this bottomless pit.

There is NO WAY that the money spent will be got back in running fees, Unless scotsman going to be running every day for the length of its boiler ticket. Cant really see that happening...

the money could have been used to get other locos back in running order, The scotsman has had its time, grease the running gear, UAT him for main line and have him as a rolling static. hes still available then for viewing at NRM or anywhere else that want him as a celebrity loco, a compressor can throw some air in to the air system and blow the whistle etc.

Evening Star could be back in traffic, when was the last time a 9F saw some anger out of Euston, Pad or kings x?

Just think there are more worthy vehicles at York and Shildon who deserve the money being spent on them thats all

455driver · 5 Nov 2013

zn1 said:
Evening Star could be back in traffic, when was the last time a 9F saw some anger out of Euston, Pad or kings x?

A 9F will never be allowed on the modern network because of the flangeless (wider) centre wheelset and the new points/crossovers that have raised V wings with the possibility of very expensive damage to both if they meet.

Monty · 5 Nov 2013

Which is a pity because they would make absolute mincemeat out of the increasingly heavier loads that are asked of steam locos on rail tours lately.

455driver · 5 Nov 2013

The other (perceived) problem would be the top speed with them being small wheeled freight engines, didnt stop them of the S&D did it!

I wonder if an 8F would be allowed out now? I know they have in the past!

Monty · 5 Nov 2013

Indeed I've heard stories of 'spirited' performances of 9Fs on passenger trains on the ECML.

As for 8Fs, 48151 is certified for mainline use and is a regular on mainline railtours.

455driver · 5 Nov 2013

Monty said:
Indeed I've heard stories of 'spirited' performances of 9Fs on passenger trains on the ECML.

There are many documented records of 9Fs reaching well over 80mph.

Monty said:
As for 8Fs, 48151 is certified for mainline use and is a regular on mainline railtours.

I knew a 7F (S&D 13809) had been used on the mainline back in the 80s but wasnt sure if an 8F had/was mainlined.
Thanks for the clarification Monty.

YorkshireBear · 5 Nov 2013

455 Driver just for your interest. Taken at Colton Junction on August Bank Holiday Monday.

8F on Scarborough Spa Express.

EbbwJunction1 · 7 Nov 2013

ian1944 said:
What is the significance of the number 103 on the cab?

The last time that I saw her, she had the numbers "502" (her war time number) and "103" (the 1946 renumbering) on either side of the cab.

This was a couple of years ago, so what's happened since I don't know.

455driver · 7 Nov 2013

YorkshireBear said:
455 Driver just for your interest. Taken at Colton Junction on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Thanks Bear, much appreciated.

I do prefer to see the 'unsung heroes' out and about rather than the glory engines.

I had the pleasure of having 850 'Lord Nelson' (with 5407 inside for insurance, not needed

) over the Settle to Carlisle line and 13809 around the corner to Carnforth, all while sat in mark 2 Pullman comfort back in the 1980s, its a rough life!

YorkshireBear · 7 Nov 2013

455driver said:
Thanks Bear, much appreciated.

I do prefer to see the 'unsung heroes' out and about rather than the glory engines.

I had the pleasure of having 850 'Lord Nelson' (with 5407 inside for insurance, not needed ) over the Settle to Carlisle line and 13809 around the corner to Carnforth, all while sat in mark 2 Pullman comfort back in the 1980s, its a rough life!

I agree, i agree quite a lot.

Infact my favorite engine at the KWVR is the WD 2-8-0 for the same reason.

Flying Scotsman restoration announcement

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