First Official Flying Scotsman Run

John Gaydon | January 10, 2016 | Europe

Thousands Brave Cold, Damp Weather For A Glimpse

This weekend marked a special treat for English rail enthusiasts. After many years, their beloved Flying Scotsman in wartime black livery finally returned to service on the East Lancashire Railway.

The Flying Scotsman steam engine leaves East Lancashire Railway in Bury, Britain January 8, 2016. REUTERS/Darren Staples

The engine still has no brakes and it was planned to have a Black 5 at the back of the train to provide braking, but it wouldn’t work on the day, so a diesel had to be used to stop the train.

It is great to see this engine back working and it won’t be long before she takes a special from London to York, something that is sure to be watched by many thousands.

Here is an eyewitness account and below you will see a video of her in action on a bleak English winter’s day.

LNER “Flying Scotsman” makes it’s hugely long anticipated return to service at the East Lancs Railway, as it’s hauls a special service up and down the railway. With a specially implemented timetable, that would coincide with it’s running in period along the privately owned Lancashire railway, while running in wartime black livery, which it will be only sporting for a short period of time, until it’s inaugural run, along the East Coast Mainline, where it will be in B.R Brunswick Green.

The day did not start well, as Black Five 45407, was declared a temporary failure, and considering it was due to operate the braking of the train, which the Scotsman was pulling, it meant a class 31 diesel needed to be powered up, so it could control the trains brakes, as the Scotsman is temporarily unable to operate the brakes on it’s train. The timetable slipped well behind due to the delay. Given the inclusion of the diesel, it was only taking it’s weight and rarely assisted the able Scotsman.

Locations for today were Rawtenstall, Bury & Heap Bridge, where the engine can be heard in good voice on the climb to Heywood. TV actor, Robson Green is seen on the footplate at Bury, shooting for a new Scotsman documentary, which will air later on this year. An absolute superb sight and well worth the wait. Here’s hoping for an extensive trouble free period of running and we can all look forward to it’s mainline outing’s which hopefully everyone will get to witness.