NRM seeks six-yeaR custodiaN foR ‘a3’
York to reveal who will operate ‘Scotsman’ until end of centenary year.
The National Railway Museum is to decide which organisation will maintain and operate Flying Scotsman from January until the end of 2023 - its centenary year. Its parent organisation, the Science Museum Group, published an invitation to tender on August 22 2017. The closing date for applications is September 13 and the successful organisation is expected be revealed during October. An NRM spokesperson told Steam Railway: “We will speak to a number of suppliers that tender for the opportunity, once it has been published, to encourage competition.” The NRM was not able to comment further as the formal tendering process for the £1 million contract is under way. Gresley’s famed ‘Pacific’ No. 60103 has been in the care of Riley & Son (E) Ltd since the same Lancashire firm completed its overhaul in early 2016. Its contract for managing ‘Scotsman’ expires at the end of this year. The contract will require the successful bidder to carry out a “mandatory interim overhaul of the locomotive”. In a recent interview with the NRM’s Assistant Director and Head Curator Andrew McLean, he stated that the ‘A3’ was “working really well” and “we hope to see ‘Scotsman’ running for a good few years yet.” The museum’s recently appointed interim director, Judith McNicol, has outlined her vision for the NRM under her jurisdiction. She said: “It is a huge honour to be appointed… I have worked here for the past 13 years so I know the museum well and I have three main priorities: To progress the smooth and successful redevelopment of the Great Hall as part of the York Central Development and the NRM’s Masterplan; To enhance and develop Locomotion, the NRM at Shildon, to ensure that we make the most of this historically significant site; To invest in our collection and people to ensure that we can continue to tell the story of the past, present and future of the railways.”
WE HOPE TO SEE ‘SCOTSMAN’ RUNNING FOR A GOOD FEW YEARS YET ANDREW McLEAN, NRM