Flying Scotsman - Watercress to York.

[DerekC]

60103 Flying Scotsman is currently at the Watercress Line (attracting a lot of punters, by all accounts).

Its last event in Hampshire is on the 21st March and NRM is advertising it on display there from 28th; it arrived in steam from Tyseley via Worcester, Oxford, Reading and Guildford, 'nannied' by a couple of Rail Adventure Class 43s.

A colleague's grandson who lives near Blackwater is desperate to see it and missed it on the way down.

Despite checking out RealtimeTrains, I can't find its path up to York. Does anyone have any clues? Maybe they just haven't pathed it yet.

 

[43096]

60103 Flying Scotsman is currently at the Watercress Line (attracting a lot of punters, by all accounts).

Its last event in Hampshire is on the 21st March and NRM is advertising it on display there from 28th; it arrived in steam from Tyseley via Worcester, Oxford, Reading and Guildford, 'nannied' by a couple of Rail Adventure Class 43s.

A colleague's grandson who lives near Blackwater is desperate to see it and missed it on the way down.

Despite checking out RealtimeTrains, I can't find its path up to York. Does anyone have any clues? Maybe they just haven't pathed it yet.

It's a bit early for it to pathed yet, I suspect. But expect it go back with RailAdventure power cars providing traction.

 

[800002]

If planning at MK are following the protocol for the ECS transfers, as they are with the mainline running, it won't get published to systems till 24 hours before it's due to run.

 

[DerekC]

Thanks, that's very helpful.

 

[WTT Gremlin]

It's a bit early for it to pathed yet, I suspect. But expect it go back with RailAdventure power cars providing traction.

Would depend on when bid to NR, but if bid at normal timescales then unless certain operational/planning reasons have caused delay then it would be likely the paths were already finished, and probably for a reasonable amount of time.

Regardless of when the Charters planning team complete the timings, etc. the point 800002 makes is key, the paths do not get sent downstream until as late as practicable.

 

[800002]

Regardless of when the Charters planning team complete the timings, etc. the point 800002 makes is key, the paths do not get sent downstream until as late as practicable.

For reasons which, no doubt, have been explained prior relating to poor public behaviour towards the engine.

 

[WTT Gremlin]

For reasons which, no doubt, have been explained prior relating to poor public behaviour towards the engine.

I would be exceedingly surprised if they hadn't. And I would be equally as surprised if at some point there hadn't been thought put into whether Flying Scotsman timings couldn't be completely hidden.

 

[DerekC]

Thanks all for the help earlier. Flying Scotsman's path from Alton to Kings Norton OT Plant Depot has now been published on Realtime Trains - those on this forum who want to see it can find it, I am sure. Sadly for my friend & colleague's grandson, it passes him mid-morning on a school day.

PS for those interested - after about an hour at Kings Norton, a new path goes onward the same evening to the National Railway Museum, where the loco is advertised as on display from 28th.

 

[fwsmVor]

Thanks all for the help earlier. Flying Scotsman's path from Alton to Kings Norton OT Plant Depot has now been published on Realtime Trains - those on this forum who want to see it can find it, I am sure. Sadly for my friend & colleague's grandson, it passes him mid-morning on a school day.

PS for those interested - after about an hour at Kings Norton, a new path goes onward the same evening to the National Railway Museum, where the loco is advertised as on display from 28th.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:U80176/2026-03-23/detailed for the lazy

 

[Flange Squeal]

Observed departing Alton in the formation: 43423, support coach, Scotsman, 43467.

Stills from a video a friend has given me permission to share - first shows 43423 leading and second shows Scotsman sandwiched between its support coach and rear power car 43467.

 

[DerekC]

Must have been standing next to your friend. Do the 43s have wireless traction control between the units, or is there a bit of temporary cable involved?

 

[43096]

Do the 43s have wireless traction control between the units, or is there a bit of temporary cable involved?

No and no.

The load is comfortably within the capability of one power car.

 

[martin butler]

Must have been standing next to your friend. Do the 43s have wireless traction control between the units, or is there a bit of temporary cable involved?

Given the load, surely only 1 Power car only needs to be working can they run with one power car operating, or have both got to be under power, even if ones just idling, ?

 

[fgwrich]

Given the load, surely only 1 Power car only needs to be working can they run with one power car operating, or have both got to be under power, even if ones just idling, ?

One runs, the other idles. Both Power Cars need to be running for this move due to reversals enroute - also the other reason why the RA Crews have made this move easier to run by sandwiching FS inside. It came down with the power cars operating back to back and had to run around at Guildford, whereas top n tail eliminates this.

 

[43096]

One runs, the other idles. Both Power Cars need to be running for this move due to reversals enroute - also the other reason why the RA Crews have made this move easier to run by sandwiching FS inside. It came down with the power cars operating back to back and had to run around at Guildford, whereas top n tail eliminates this.

It reversed at Ash on this move. I wouldn't be surprised if the rear power car was shut down after the reversal to save fuel.

And for those wondering how to couple 98872's tender to a power car - the tender has a drophead-buckeye which is compatible with the Alliance coupler on the power car.

 

[317362]

That was the most peculiar thing I've ever seen moving on the railway...

Image shows HST power car, Flying Scotsman tender first, support coach and HST power car, headed towards the Reading diveunder

 

[cats_five]

Are those power cars on the verge of being retired? They are so scruffy

 

[fgwrich]

Are those power cars on the verge of being retired? They are so scruffy

No, they will be repainted at some point soon. However with 2 other Power Cars out of service from a fleet of 6 receiving the new digital signalling mods, these two are continuously busy.

 

[cats_five]

No, they will be repainted at some point soon. However with 2 other Power Cars out of service from a fleet of 6 receiving the new digital signalling mods, these two are continuously busy.

Thanks

 

[DerekC]

I noticed that as it passed me at about 10mph just approaching Alton station from the Watercress Line hauled by the leading Class 43, Flying Scotsman was in steam but with cylinder drain valves open. Is that a normal condition for hauling steam locomotives around the network?

 

[Iskra]

I managed to catch this move through Pontefract, thank you to the posters on here for bringing it to my attention!

 

[crosscity]

The train spent more than an hour in Kings Norton yard, where there was much shunting, with the two Class 20's involved too. The t/t HST power cars and coach were reformed so that when it left the two power cars led, with FS immediately behind followed by the coach, presumably allowing a quick drop-off at the Museum.
Here are my 'before' and 'after' shots.

23Mar2026 14:55. 5Z43 Before Kings Norton yard. Groveley Lane, Birmingham. [P1240538] by Ray Honke, on Flickr


`23Mar2026 16:51. 5Z44 Just after leaving Kings Norton yard. [P1240574] by Ray Honke, on Flickr

 

[Iskra]

The train spent more than an hour in Kings Norton yard, where there was much shunting, with the two Class 20's involved too. The t/t HST power cars and coach were reformed so that when it left the two power cars lead, with FS immediately behind followed by the coach, presumably allowing a quick drop-off at the Museum.
Here are my 'before' and 'after' shots.

23Mar2026 14:55. 5Z43 Before Kings Norton yard. Groveley Lane, Birmingham. [P1240538] by Ray Honke, on Flickr


`23Mar2026 16:51. 5Z44 Just after lLeaving Kings Norton yard. [P1240574] by Ray Honke, on Flickr

Nice! I was hoping it would come through in the first formation, but it was still a decent sight!

 

[bleeder4]

I must admit, the use of back to back HST power cars as a locomotive is one of the more surprising (but very welcome!) railway developments in recent years.

 

[Class73Electro]

Quick question - why is FS being dragged rather than go under her own steam, since there shouldn't (I believe?) be any reason she can't move in the mainline by herself?

 

[Iskra]

Quick question - why is FS being dragged rather than go under her own steam, since there shouldn't (I believe?) be any reason she can't move in the mainline by herself?

Possibly to conserve water and to avoid the logistics of watering her somewhere on route

 

[martin butler]

Quick question - why is FS being dragged rather than go under her own steam, since there shouldn't (I believe?) be any reason she can't move in the mainline by herself?

Because Northern steam, who are the custodians of it, do not have any contract with any of the main line TOC's that could, such as DBR and West Coast

When Riley had it, he had contracts with both, I think it's because Northern steam are new to the industry, and the TOC's are reluctant to take on work ,

So far only Vintage Trains have operated 60103 on the main line, in time, I would expect that a main line partner will have to be found, if she is to haul any more charters.

 

[Iskra]

Because Northern steam, who are the custodians of it, do not have any contract with any of the main line TOC's that could, such as DBR and West Coast

When Riley had it, he had contracts with both, I think it's because Northern steam are new to the industry, and the TOC's are reluctant to take on work ,

So far only Vintage Trains have operated 60103 on the main line, in time, I would expect that a main line partner will have to be found, if she is to haul any more charters.

So how come it worked this light engine move solo last year?

 

[matt]

DB Cargo can move it too but they don't have many steam drivers.

 

[martin butler]

DB Cargo can move it too but they don't have many steam drivers.

I believe they moved her to rail 200 along with the Pullmans but of late, the chosen way is to move her in light steam with diesel traction,

I was under the impression from what was said, on another forum, that i no longer have access too, to check, that West coast don't want to operate her, and that DBC, also had concerns, mostly because Northern steam , don't have any prior experience of mainline operations as a company, whilst some of its staff may very well be very experienced steam people.