Flying Scotsman for Nene Valley

Flying Scotsman’s reappointed custodian wants to take the National Railway Museum ‘A3’ deep into the West Highlands.

Flying Scotsman’s diary for 2018 is fleshing out, although one destination not in there is Glenfinnan Viaduct. Neither is it in next year’s programme… but it remains an ambition. The idea comes from Ian Riley, the keeper of the National Collection ‘A3’ and whose ‘Black Fives’ have, over the years, made Fort William a second home. If it came to fruition it would be a first in the 95-year-plus history of the Gresley 4-6-2, and No. 60103 would become only the second ‘Pacific’ ever to have run over the West Highland. Standard No. 72001 Clan Cameron was the engine on the only previous occasion, taking passengers to a clan gathering at Achnacarry in 1956. Although running a 4-6-2 has been suggested since – in 2010 the idea was mooted to take No. 70013 (SR373) – it came to nothing. There’s a problem though for the ‘A3’; in Ian’s words – “a few bridges”. Normally you might think that would be a showstopper, but Riley has his eye on the introduction this year of the new Spanish-built Mk 5 sleeper coaches on the ‘Fort Bill beds’ for which, he says, the bridges will be altered anyway. ‘Scotsman’, he reckons, could be a lucky beneficiary. If the Doncaster engine can reach Fort William next year, its custodian feels sure that he can also get it part way along the Mallaig ‘Extension’ – as far as Glenfinnan – thus putting two railway symbols of Scotland in one scene. Beyond Glenfinnan, the combination of winding secondary line and East Coast 4-6-2 really doesn’t work. As for the ‘why’, Ian has an eye on the National Railway Museum wanting to achieve a bigger geographic reach for its ‘Pacific’, but he also accepts that it’s just something ‘he wants to do’. He argues that there “can’t be anything more Scottish” than Flying Scotsman and Glenfinnan together, a pairing he describes as the “epitome of Scottish steam”. “I think it’d sell,” he says, “because it would be a one-off.” All this, as you might gather, follows the formal signing of the contract for Riley to continue to run the ‘A3’; the announcement was made by the NRM in February (see News). That secures a programme which includes trips like Steam Dreams Rail Co.’s multi-day Edinburgh spin (in May) and an appearance on this year’s ‘Great Britain’ for the Railway Touring Company (April). The latest contract is a six-year deal and includes an overhaul in 2022, in order that ‘Scotsman’ is fit for its centenary in 2023. There is, however, no call yet on whether the Doncaster engine will change to single chimney/Apple green for that occasion, or whether it will stay in its current late BR guise, complete with double chimney and smoke deflectors.

the real thing was withdrawn from st rollox in december 1962