Seven pounds for ten minutes next to Flying Scotsman?

[Blinkbonny]

Hmmm....

Head to London Kings Cross this October to see steam locomotive 60103 Flying Scotsman

National Railway Museum-owned LNER A3 No. 60103 Flying Scotsman is heading to London Kings Cross this October, allowing members of the public a chance to get see the locomotive fresh from its overhaul.

www.railadvent.co.uk

National Railway Museum-owned LNER A3 No. 60103 Flying Scotsman is heading to London Kings Cross this October, allowing members of the public a chance to get see the locomotive fresh from its overhaul.

The public display will be at London Kings Cross on the 15th and 16th October.

Tickets for the event cost £7 per person (for both Adults and Children)

Marking the 170th Anniversary of the station, members of the public can buy a platform ticket to visit the locomotive on platform 8 and will have a chance to take a photo with the locomotive.

Ticket holders can:

• 10 minutes on the platform with Flying Scotsman
• Special souvenir ticket
• Drive Flying Scotsman virtually, which has been developed by Dovetail Games
• Flying Scotsman merchandise available to purchase

The NRM also says that a discount of £1 will apply when you book 3 or more tickets in one transaction.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The phrase "one born every minute" springs to mind...

 

[ainsworth74]

Any excuse to try and raise more money from the Flying Moneypit

 

[Denis103]

Disgraceful antics by NRM

 

[Blinkbonny]

If that's the going rate I must owe several hundred pounds over the years.

 

[Dunfanaghy Rd]

I'd pay to not have to stand next to the thing.
Pat

 

[Maybach]

It all depends on how you view 'Flying Scotsman'. Is it one of the great icons of the steam age or the most over-rated locomotive in railway history?

 

[Spamcan81]

Disgraceful antics by NRM

Are they forcing anyone to buy a ticket?

 

[Islineclear3_1]

The thing is, people will pay

 

[SeanG]

If I read this right, the ticket is a platform ticket. Would it not be cheaper to simply buy a return to, say, Finsbury Park and walk through the barriers?

 

[ainsworth74]

If I read this right, the ticket is a platform ticket. Would it not be cheaper to simply buy a return to, say, Finsbury Park and walk through the barriers?

One presumes that there is a separate grip on the relevant platform. Otherwise the entire idea of having ticketed entrance rather falls apart!

 

[Huntergreed]

Just tap into the adjacent platform, wander up, get a few photos, and tap out? Free of charge!

 

[MP393]

Just tap into the adjacent platform, wander up, get a few photos, and tap out? Free of charge!

If you’re referring to Oyster/Contactless, does that work? I always thought if you tapped in and out at the same station you get charged maximum fare or something similar.. but then again I suppose I’ve never though about if your train gets cancelled and you leave! Every day is a learning day, please enlighten me to the answer!

 

[y3j]

Think folks are missing an important point here. London King's Cross (KGX) is an NR station, so how much of the fee is going to NR and how much to the NRM? Or is the NRM getting preferential treatment even though it is a government body?

 

[paul1609]

Think folks are missing an important point here. LKX is an NR station, so how much of the fee is going to NR and how much to the NRM? Or is the NRM getting preferential treatment even though it is a government body?

Hasnt Kings Cross always had private platforms for special interest groups?
9 3/4?

 

[Peter Sarf]

If I read this right, the ticket is a platform ticket. Would it not be cheaper to simply buy a return to, say, Finsbury Park and walk through the barriers?

No its not the cheapest. I gotta over 60s Oyster !.

If you’re referring to Oyster/Contactless, does that work? I always thought if you tapped in and out at the same station you get charged maximum fare or something similar.. but then again I suppose I’ve never though about if your train gets cancelled and you leave! Every day is a learning day, please enlighten me to the answer!

Yes straight charge of something like £4.30 if you use pre-pay to touch in and then back out again. I think that action also destroys your daily cap. I discovered this feature when I had to nominate a station to receive a refund and had no reason to travel. So I touched in, turned round and touched out - barriers at East Croydon took part of my refund !.

 

[357]

I suppose the market they are aiming for are those with children who will also enjoy the simulator experience included in the ticket, and a chance to see the train up close without needing to pay mega money for the tour.

If they can sell the tickets then I see no problem with it.

 

[Davester50]

Are they forcing anyone to buy a ticket?

and a chance to see the train up close without needing to pay mega money for the tour.

If they can sell the tickets then I see no problem with it.

Exactly how I see it too.

 

[Horizon22]

Most of the time London terminals are absoutely rammed - sometimes dangerously so - any time the Scotsman pulls in. It's hard to even get an image on what can be very narrow platforms and it's only gotten worse in recent years requiring extra BTP presence and so on.

It is clearly a desirable place to take a picture, and the demand is there for it, so I imagine making it ticketed will allow a calmer - and safer - environment for those that want to be there and the staff at the station and working the train, and of course any money probably goes back into the NRM. Of course for enthusiasts who don't want to pay, there will be ample opporunities to take pictures along the route I am sure.

 

[matrix24]

It all depends on how you view 'Flying Scotsman'. Is it one of the great icons of the steam age or the most over-rated locomotive in railway history?

Is it a geat icon - Yes.

Is it a over-rated locomotive - Yes.

Demand and stardom is evident in every part of life. This is no different.

Some will pay, many will pass, but that is the price of commercialism.

 

[DarloRich]

seems like a good way to make a bit of money but more importantly control crowds and access.

Disgraceful antics by NRM

eh? Why do posters here ( and enthusiasts generally) lose their sheets over FS?

The thing is, people will pay

of course they will. £7 a ticket here to see FS or £70 for a return to York to see it in the NRM. It is a no brainer.

Is it a over-rated locomotive - Yes.

and there is the real issue on this board. FS is popular with the normals and the enthusiasts hate that for some reason.

 

[John Luxton]

It all depends on how you view 'Flying Scotsman'. Is it one of the great icons of the steam age or the most over-rated locomotive in railway history?

Flying Scotsman hauled the first rail tour I travelled on the - The LCGB Moorlands Railtour from Liverpool Lime Street in October 1968 after my father treated me to a trip for my 9th birthday. It was an enjoyable day out. Travelled behind her a couple more times and went to the Torbay Steam Railway was it Summer 74. But after that just completely lost interest in it. If I discover Flying Scotsman is about I make sure I am no where near.

Completely overrated. - The media is partly to blame placing it on a pedestal it does not really deserve. Net result is there have been umpteen trespass incidents associated with it. Time to plinth it and get 6000 KGV out on the mainline again.

 

[Peter Sarf]

.............

and there is the real issue on this board. FS is popular with the normals and the enthusiasts hate that for some reason.

Pfft, what do these normals know about trains !!!. Your right, if people want to see it they can pay. I can tell it has drawn too much attention, quite possibly to the detriment of other "trains". But stardom was ever thus - just makes a change for a prima-donna to be a machine !.

One day D1062 will pull the crowds in.

 

[DarloRich]

get 6000 KGV out on the mainline again.

what's that? I have no idea so why will little Johnnie?

Why does this board and enthusiasts generally hate Flying Scotsman. Can someone explain it?

 

[Darandio]

what's that? I have no idea so why will little Johnnie?

The NRM rejected overhauling it way back when. However they did overhaul Flying Scotsman. Probably gives some good starting background to your second question!

 

[py_megapixel]

Why does this board and enthusiasts generally hate Flying Scotsman. Can someone explain it?

I don't think it's a particular hate for it, it's just annoyance with the fact that the NRM seems to prefer pouring money into the famous steam locomotives rather than doing more interesting things.

 

[DarloRich]

I don't think it's a particular hate for it, it's just annoyance with the fact that the NRM seems to prefer pouring money into the famous steam locomotives rather than doing more interesting things.

such as? ( remember the point of the NRM is to appeal to real people not enthusiasts)

I think using their star asset to engage the general public and bring in revenue is exactly what they should be doing.

 

[jopsuk]

smart business really, fleece punters to raise money for the museum. Wonder if they'll park a train on platform 7, or just have security chasing "freeloaders" away all day?

 

[Ediswan]

seems like a good way to make a bit of money but more importantly control crowds and access.

Is it stated aywhere how many people you get to share your ten minutes on the platform with ?

 

[Islineclear3_1]

I would pay if the NRM put their restored 306 in the platform....