‘SCOTSMAN’: STEADY AS SHE GO ES IN 2018

Ian Riley’s reappointment to operate Flying Scotsman means it’s likely to be business as usual for the forthcoming year - and beyond.

Promoters the Railway Touring Company and Steam Dreams Rail Co. have cautiously welcomed news that Ian Riley is to stay in charge of Flying Scotsman. I say cautious, not because they might somehow be against Riley’s custodianship of the National Collection ‘A3’ – quite the opposite – but because as these words were being written, before Christmas, the details remained opaque. That’s because the announcement by the National Railway Museum on December 14 didn’t outline any final deal – just that Riley and Son (E) had been selected as the “preferred supplier to operate and maintain” the Gresley engine. Indeed, York said it is “currently negotiating the final contract and more information will be released once the process has concluded.” In essence, that is public body-speak for ‘we want and expect Riley to do it, but we’ve not yet completely nailed things down.’ It also effectively confirms that a new deal from 2018 is intended to carry on from where the old one expired. However, when asked in December, the museum would not yet confirm whether the new version was to be for six years, as expected; assuming that does turn out to be the case, it would mean No. 60103 being with Riley until 2024 – and therefore for its centenary in 2023. Nor would York divulge whether the deal is to include repainting Flying Scotsman into Apple green and/or conversion from its current double chimney to single chimney form; or what other NRM conditions or ambitions it entails, if any. Neither, as I wrote this, had there yet been any pronouncement on whether the Doncaster ‘Pacific’ would be granted a similar level of activity to its first two seasons since returning to the main line in early 2016. So there is still more to be said. Even so, the plan that the ‘A3’s’ management will remain with the previous organisation suggests continuity for tour promoters. Until now, the LNER engine’s main line activity has been dominated by two: the Railway Touring Company; and Steam Dreams. Both were positive on hearing of the announcement that the former East Coast machine would be staying with the man who has not only run it over the last two years, but oversaw the final stages of its overhaul. “We’ve used him for two years [on Flying Scotsman] and always had good service,” said RTC boss Nigel Dobbing on December 14. “I think it’s good news – and I hope we’ll be able to continue to use it as planned.” The Steam Dreams Rail Co.’s Marcus Robertson offered up similar sentiments – though in his case one particular thought is pressing: does this mean he will indeed be able to run the ‘A3’ to Edinburgh this spring, in what’s intended to be the third version of his multi-day tour to the city with the celebrity engine? Marcus has already said he plans that the May 19-22 trip would go ahead even without No. 60103 if necessary – but also made clear his preference to use the 4-6-2 (SR473). After hearing the news, he told Down Main on December 14: “I think it’s a great thing. It’s the right thing for the engine, it’s the right thing for the NRM and, hopefully, it’ll be the right thing for us too, assuming we continue to work with him. Obviously that is our intention, and hopefully Flying Scotsman to Edinburgh is on, as we always intended.” What of the man behind Riley and Son himself? Well, I managed to catch up with him in a period of relative calm on December 18 while he was in the West Highlands for the pre-Christmas ‘Jacobites’ – but until things were finalised with the museum there was little he could comment on. “We’re well pleased, but until it’s signed, sealed and delivered I can’t say any more,” Ian Riley reported. For its part, the NRM says that more on the 2018 operating schedule “will be announced in the New Year.” So although they may have grounds to be pleased, it seems that as I write this the engine’s prospective users will have to wait just a little while yet before knowing for sure where they stand for the coming season. That is undoubtedly not where people wanted to be at this point; the NRM had previously said it hoped to make an announcement on Flying Scotsman’s future in October (SR471). Even so, when it comes to management of the nation’s ‘A3’, it seems the museum has decided on ‘steady as she goes’.

it’s the right thing for the engine, for the nrM and, hopefully, for us too MARCUS ROBERTSON