Flying Scotsman on its way to York

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

One of the world's most famous locomotives has set off on a journey from London King's Cross to its new home in York.

The engine, which was retired from service in 1963, has been restored in a decade-long, £4.2m refit.

**LINK**

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

.

Fantastic.

Nick

[julian atkinsParticipant @julianatkins58923]

thank you Ady for the link.

the BBC coverage of the KX to York run i thought excellent.

surely a sight to gladden the hearts of all steam based model engineers?! and all railway enthusiasts?!

cheers,

julian

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

Being a Kings X loco. 60103 was no rarity on the southern ECML and to be honest was treated with casual disinterest by us schoolboy spotters in the 1950's who were looking out for something more exotic from far flung engine sheds to underline in our Ian Allen books. How good it would be to revisit those times and I wouldn't demur if she ran up and down that line all day long.

Mick

[Johnboy25Participant @johnboy25]

The news event of the week and I missed it! 😂 Oh well – have try to watch it on ketchup TV on t'internet or iPlayer.

J.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Saw it on TVNZ 6 PM news this evening, looking good.

Ian S C

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

One thing i did notice was that the steam coming out of the chimney was lovely and fluffily white while older film of steam locos it tends to be black and dense

Is it the type of fuel used today? better quality coal?

[Eric CoxParticipant @ericcox50497]

Why smoke deflectors ?. I'm more used to seeing her without. They spoil the look.

I remember her coming through my local station in the early 60's, she had two tenders and an observation car on the back. I must have been about ten and it was midnight.

Edited By Eric Cox on 26/02/2016 09:36:42

[Gordon TarlingParticipant @gordontarling37126]

Ian – Steam will always be white and fluffy. Smoke is darker and sometimes even looks black. My understanding is that there are times that the blower is used to increase the draw through the boiler and this results in lots of steam from the chimney. When the loco is running well, the blower will normally be turned off, hence the darker smoke.

Eric – I wondered that, too. I feel it must be something to do with requirements to run a steam loco on a network which doesn't normally see steam.

[julian atkinsParticipant @julianatkins58923]

re the smoke deflectors

during the Marchington era of ownership, the late BR era double chimney was reinstated. since 1963 the loco had reverted to the LNER single chimney. the double chimney produces a softer exhaust (less back pressure), and hence problems of cab visibility if smoke deflectors are not also fitted.

cheers,

julian

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

On the radio while I was in the dentist's waiting room earlier. Can't say I was paying a great deal of attention

Neil

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

I think that I am correct in saying that there are two main components of the "smoke" coming out of a loco's chimney. The first is the exhaust steam from the cylinders which would tend to produce the white fluffy stuff. The second component, the gases drawn through the firebox and tubes which would be dark and sulphurous and smell delightful. The end result is a mixture of both of course although the dark stuff would be much more in evidence if the loco is "working hard". I recall that the locos going north on the ECML , ie uphill, always had more smoke effects than those travelling in the opposite direction. Variations in regulator and cut-off settings would also undoubtedly produce different effects and very often there were no smoke effects to be seen at all on the downhill run. I have read somewhere that experienced engine drivers are quite adept at producing any effect that you would like and in fact do so for lineside photographers.

Mick

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

I was aware that the output from the chimney was both combustion gases and exhausted steam from the cylinders but almost all older film of steam engines resulted in black smoke being emitted rather than the romantic white fluffy type

[JAParticipant @ja]

Am I right in thinking that some locomotives had a steam blower in the smoke box for lifting ash deposited in the box while running? The ash would then be drawn through the chimney. If so fluffy white steam could be changed to thick black smoke instantaneously.

I think the continental type smoke deflectors look rather smart.

JA

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

At a local model Railway Exhibition last weekend I picked up a CD of steam in the 60's between Kings Cross and York and several A3's were wearing the continental deflectors, yesterday I had a job in Cambridge so I thought that I would leave home early, live in village near ECML, and grab a spot to get some pictures then off to work, then Wednesday evening I get a phone call from work telling me I'm now going to Oxford and have to be there for 9 am so my plan went out the window.

What spoilt the day was the Morons who got onto the track to get pictures and caused the train to stop.

Martin P

[julian atkinsParticipant @julianatkins58923]

oh dear!

a decent fireman on a fullsize loco judges combustion (amongst other things) by the exhaust emitted from the chimney. i was taught to do the same in miniature, and i have no reason to change this practice after 33 years!

there are significant problems in fullsize these days with supplies of decent coal which changes things considerably.

if anything, the 'old' film of Flying Scotsman especially after Alan Pegler bought it and ran it on BR shows more 'fluffy white clouds' than on other mainline locos in recent years as per youtube clips and personal observation. this is rather pertinant considering that the ER of BR used Nottingham Hard coal usually. this supply ended many years ago.

i could comment a lot further but i suspect it would get rather boring!

cheers,

julian

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

Posted by julian atkins on 26/02/2016 23:01:47:

 

i could comment a lot further but i suspect it would get rather boring!

 

I think not Julian. Come on, give us something from actual experience as opposed to fading memories.

 

Mick

 

 

 

Edited By mick H on 27/02/2016 07:51:37

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, well she was sporting the smoke deflectors when I saw her at the Nene Valley Railway in June 1994, and I believe there were some adverse comments about them then. Personally I think they look fine and make her look ready for business.

Regards Nick.

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

Love the pictures, videos and comments of that elegant piece of History. One thing I cannot fathom is,Who is stupid enough to get on train tracks when they know a train is coming? My Dad had a friend that was playing Chicken with a train, train won, prize was loss of an arm, He still lived.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I know in some movies they used to crack the drain cocks, just to make things look more impressive – an engine in good nick would never have steam coming from the cylinders when running normally.

Neil

[alan-lloydParticipant @alan-lloyd]

What would have been the iceing on the cake would be that second water tender, if it still exists, or a fake dare I mention.

[dizzibitsParticipant @dizzibits]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 27/02/2016 18:32:03:

I know in some movies they used to crack the drain cocks, just to make things look more impressive – an engine in good nick would never have steam coming from the cylinders when running normally.

Neil

 

As 60532 would testify.

Edited By dizzibits on 28/02/2016 08:53:29

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Perhaps it is still in the , 'Running in phase' and adjustments made to correct found faults. I understand it is now going into a museum on display but I wonder if it will come out again.

Daily Mail giving away a nice print, so get down and buy a paper.

Clive

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

Clive,

Its home is the National railway museum where its going to reside for the next six weeks so the public can see it, it had better come out as I've got a ticket to ride behind it on the 15th June from Euston to Holyhead.

Martin P

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