Sunny Spring "Scotsman": A Famous Engine...

Hi all. After work today I was in two minds as to whether to go out and see the passing of a steamer on the nearby West Coast Main Line. The engine was none other than "Flying Scotsman". The NRM's A3 Pacific was on a positioning move with her support coach from Keighley to East Grinstead, ready for a star turn at the Bluebell Railway over Easter. The engine was due to pass Nuneaton's Platform 5 at 15:21 and so I headed down to a spot on Marston Lane, not too far from our house. A gallery of around a dozen photographers had gathered to see "the Worlds most famous engine" fly by and no doubt Nuneaton Station itself was rammed. The local press had done all they could to advertise this movement which for most other engines would be pretty low key!

Running a minute or two early, 60103 passed us by with her support coach, providing a back drop to the yellow colours of the rapeseed in the field. She wasn't in sight for many seconds before she disappeared in the direction of Rugby. We had "Flying Scotsman" at Tyseley last September and it was nice to see her motoring along at speed. Although I've never really understood the indescribable level of love and affection that the public have for the engine, it is lovely to see such popularity following an important piece of our hobby. Everyone becomes a steam fan when it involves "Flying Scotsman"! Cheers all, Sam...