Stop & Examine

Flying Scotsman.

David Goddard writes with more information about Flying Scotsman and the Bulmer’s Cider Special in September 1973 ( RAIL 828).

“In September 1973, I had just started as a probationary teacher in Hadfield, Derbyshire,” he recalls.

“One day the headteacher announced that the whole primary school was going to Hadfield station to see the Flying Scotsman. Some of the children asked if he would be wearing his kilt! Preserved steam locomotives were not as well known then.

“We duly walked up to the station and occupied the whole of the then-disused second platform. We watched the locomorive arrive and then run round.

“I hurriedly took this photo during our visit. Looking at the photo now the children seem alarmingly close to the platform edge - no yellow lines then, although the effect may be exaggerated by the camera angle.”

Our latest on-train announcement comes from a CrossCountry train at Stoke station, bound for Manchester, courtesy of Brian Waters.

“Passengers were told of an impending ticket check and that other operators’ tickets ‘will not be accepted. So there will be no moaning, arguments or stamping of feet’.

“It caused a laugh but I cannot recall whether it caused any passengers to disembark.”