272 - It's almost a month since I last featured a steam locomotive, so time for a trip to York's railway museum. This shot is taken in the workshop area, where maintenance and restoration take place, and where a gallery gives visitors a view over the work area.
This locomotive is probably one of the best known locomotives in the UK - Flying Scotsman - although it hasn't been flying too much recently!
It was built in 1923 and spent it's working life on express services between London, Yorkshire and Scotland. It was withdrawn from service in 1963 and sold to Alan Pegler for preservation and occasional main line running. Over the years since then it has worked in the UK, in the USA and in Australia, where it completed a 442 mile run non stop - a world record distance.
Ownership changed several times, until it was finally bought by the National Railway Museum in 2004. It was in very run down condition, but it was used for a while on special trains before a major overhaul began in 2006. As work progressed, further problems were found, and the costs have rocketed, now standing at four times the original estimate. For several years it's return to use has been 'next year', and here we are near the end of 2012 - will we see it running in 2013?
That is an interesting shot. I've never seen a steam train opened up like that before. That is something I'd like to explore and ask questions about. I once drove a 1899 steam tractor and it was a blast.
Thank you Judith - I hope your husband did like the shot. I liked Andrew Sutherland's shot - I haven't come across his shots before, but it looks like my daughter Lucy (@lucycakes) has been following him for some time.
Thank you Brian - It's been stripped completely, everything ultrasonically tested, frame cracks welded, the boiler replaced by a more authentic boiler which has been rebuilt - the list is enormous. I'm really looking forward to seeing it work again, it's such a graceful machine when running.
Thank you Brian - They have another locomotive cut in half and labelled so you can see exactly how it works. I will have to try and get a shot of it to post.
Thank you Judith - I hope your husband did like the shot. I liked Andrew Sutherland's shot - I haven't come across his shots before, but it looks like my daughter Lucy (@lucycakes) has been following him for some time.
Thank you Brian - It's been stripped completely, everything ultrasonically tested, frame cracks welded, the boiler replaced by a more authentic boiler which has been rebuilt - the list is enormous. I'm really looking forward to seeing it work again, it's such a graceful machine when running.
Thank you Pyrrhula - I love to see steam trains at work! - hopefully before too long I'll get a shot of the Flying Scotsman in action!
Thank you Bob - they've done a great job of doing as much as possible to make the whole place visible to visitors
Thank you Tony - now I need a shot of it back at work!
Correct - definitely boys and their toys! - these marvellous machines make such great subjects to photograph!
Thank you Caren - it's fascinating seeing the work being done here.
Thank you Bruni - They have another locomotive cut in half and labelled so you can see exactly how it works.
Thank you Ladyjane - this locomotive has spent a lot of time here and it's been interesting to see different phases of the work.
Thank you Carol, glad you like it!
Thank you Marie - I think it's a very attractive machine too!
Thank you Brian - They have another locomotive cut in half and labelled so you can see exactly how it works. I will have to try and get a shot of it to post.
The constant delays to completion are certainly testing my patience!
Good point - I'm getting to the stage of life where green bananas aren't a good buy as well - I'll try shots of a few other things to distract me!
Thank you Roslyn - I'm looking forward to seeing it working again - I have film shots of it at work, but no digital images.
Thank you Kd - it's been a major restoration project, and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished result.