Flying Scotsman liveried Class 91 workings?

[SovietGaz]

Quick one that should be cleared up sharpish...

The current Flying Scotsman service is listed as having no upwards working. What diagram does the liveried 91101 back up travel up on? It surely doesn't run back empty?

 

[Skimble19]

It isn't exclusive to that service, some days it won't even go near it.

 

[SovietGaz]

It isn't exclusive to that service, some days it won't even go near it.

What a disappointment, although reading more into it, it looks like a publicity stunt for the launch...

 

[ainsworth74]

What a disappointment, although reading more into it, it looks like a publicity stunt for the launch...

That would be correct. Theoretically there is a diagram that would see it get back to Edinburgh (something like Edinburgh - London - Leeds - London - Edinburgh) but as far as I'm aware it hardly ever manages to get on to the right diagram and as indicated is often no where near the 0540 Edinburgh - Kings Cross.

 

[Condor7]

What a disappointment, although reading more into it, it looks like a publicity stunt for the launch...

While it is nice to see a variety with loco livery, such as the Battle of Britain I have always felt the Flying Scotsman was to specific, and while we as enthusiasts may know what is happening, to the general public they are often mislead into thinking they are travelling on the Flying Scotsman when they are not.

 

[jopsuk]

but "back in the day" The Flying Scotstman (premier train service) was not always worked by 4472. It simply isn't feasible, what with diagaramming requirements and maintainence schedules, to even attempt to get the "right" loco and carriage set on the service. I dare say most travellers on the 0540 would barely notice if one day their train was painted to resemble Mr Blobby.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

...to the general public they are often mislead into thinking they are travelling on the Flying Scotsman when they are not.

TBH most travellers on the Flying Scotsman probably don't even know it is that unless they pay attention to the announcements. It is a nice retainer from railway heritage and can be used for some publicity, but serves no other purpose and I hardly think anyone is going to lose any sleep about "misleading" the public.

Afterall, GNER ran 'Route of the Flying Scotsman' branded stock into Leeds without batting an eyelid...

 

[ainsworth74]

Afterall, GNER ran 'Route of the Flying Scotsman' branded stock into Leeds without batting an eyelid...

Yes but that's GNER and they're above reproach

 

[43167]

Was at York in July 2004 and Flying Scotsman was on the next train after 'The Flying Scotsman'.

 

[Condor7]

TBH most travellers on the Flying Scotsman probably don't even know it is that unless they pay attention to the announcements. It is a nice retainer from railway heritage and can be used for some publicity, but serves no other purpose and I hardly think anyone is going to lose any sleep about "misleading" the public.

Afterall, GNER ran 'Route of the Flying Scotsman' branded stock into Leeds without batting an eyelid...

It is not a case of anyone loosing sleep.

I just do not think it works branding locos too specifically.
As both the East Coast case and the GNER case illustrate.
It just does not sit comfortably.

Of course there are a lot worse problems in the world to worry about, but I have always thought that titled trains should be for specific more prestigious trains, and never like the fact that this kind of branding waters that down.

 

[jopsuk]

Does the LNER example that started in the 1920s (ie having both a loco and a service with this name, but not always using one on the other) "not sit comfortably" either? This is after all the "heritage" that EC are invoking

 

[DarloRich]

While it is nice to see a variety with loco livery, such as the Battle of Britain I have always felt the Flying Scotsman was to specific, and while we as enthusiasts may know what is happening, to the general public they are often mislead into thinking they are travelling on the Flying Scotsman when they are not.

I think you need to take cognisance of fleet availability constraints, diagramming, maintenance and those last minute balls ups that occur.

I doubt, without massive difficulty, that you could keep a particular engine on a particular train for any length of time.

That said I think as a piece of branding and advertising it is very clever as people associated the service with quality, speed, history etc.

 

[Condor7]

Does the LNER example that started in the 1920s (ie having both a loco and a service with this name, but not always using one on the other) "not sit comfortably" either? This is after all the "heritage" that EC are invoking

Well I was not around in those days for it to bother me.
However back then, there were locomotives that were named, and titled trains that had headboards, so there was a distinction.

Today headboards are not generally used, and this locomotive is not named, it is purely an advertising livery, emblazoned all over the locomotive, not a more subtle name plaque.

Also as to comment on Darlorich's point. I am not saving that 91101 should be used exclusively on the Flying Scotsman, I am just saying it does not seem right to see it on other routes implying to the general public that this is the Flying Scotsman. Maybe the branding should be changed to something like. 'East Coast Railways Home Of The Flying Scotsman', or something similar.