[spongebob]

By an amazing coincidence we were there yesterdayand saw the exhibition in close up. The one of the pointwork at Kings Cross stood out in my mind ani D couldn't help wondering how the hell would you know if you cocked something up on it? Are they what are termed double slip points? I acquired a set of peco ones second hand and am now wondering where to use them.
I understand that as of next week there is an exhibition starting devoted to the Flying Scotsman.
On the subject of photography the NRM station mock-up has to be the worst lit museum in Britain in my opinion, I tried to get a couple of photo's of Winston Churchill but they came out too dark as usual.

 

[spongebob]

I'm not sure about tripods in particular but they are happy for photo's to be taken as long as it is not for commercial use so snap away.

If you are travelling by train there is now a direct access via the main footbridge to the museum instead of having to walk a quarter of a mile round the block.

Better going by train 'cos York is nightmare in a car and parking is a whopping £7 per day.

 

[spongebob]

Just don't be tempted by the range of models in the NRM shop as prices start at the manufacturers' RRP and go upwards. The daftest i saw was Duchess of Montrose in mucky green for £120

They do have a good selection of railway books and some very nice prints by various artists.

 

[spongebob]

Here's a few from my visit in January...

An aerial shot from the footbridge inside the museum showing 55002 K.O.Y.L.I in fresh blue paint for the first time since about 1981.

The nameplate from the same it looks like one of those magnetic plates you get on the side of taxis rather than a cast item.

The HST prototype 41001 showing the reverse grey/blue pullman inspired livery and what has to be one of the ugliest cockpits ever designed imagine the visibility from that, no wonder it got redesigned.

The dual names applied to newly preserved 87001...
I think you forgot to take this with you!!!

A seemingly forgotten 47715 Poseidon sits in the yard.

The load bank class 86's have been stabled at York station for a while due to vandalism.The image is a bit bright but shows the inspiration for hornby's next incarnation of the class 86, prototypical too as these are powered from one bogie only.

 

[spongebob]

It seems the NRM are causing a bit of a stir by wanting to repaint the royal loco into BR blue and reapply the 2 piece fire fly nameplates to it. EWS are reportedly a bit miffed as they gave the loco a fresh coat of paint prior to the handover.
Personally I feel the NRM have a bit of a BR blue fetish at the moment with nearly the entire diesel fleet in this colour, the only exception being D6700/37350 or whatever its carrying which is in all over br green. This is hardly a good balanced portrayal of the BR diesel era is it? especially as br blue stopped being the standard livery over 20 years ago.

 

[spongebob]

Apparently they didn't want 37350 when EWS gifted it to them yet have quite happily it seems accepted the 47 and 87 now. Not forgetting a class 101 dmu or 3! I have also read that the Flying Scotsman is to have a permanent display detailing the route, loco, and also the train as well and is to have No1 or the Deltic 55002 filling in when Scotsman is away. Not sure where exactly they have found space for it but the photo I saw looked like the room beside the turntable and stores area.
Just out of interest has anyone been to Shildon yet?

 

[spongebob]

They may be very uninvolved but at least you get to look at what they have to offer unlike the majority of preserved lines where if it aint running its usually locked away from the public gaze.
It explains why the "cab it" days are so popular.

 

[spongebob]

I suppose nowadays museums do try to make things a bit more interactive for visitors. One highlight of a visit to the NRM is to see what is in the workshop undergoing repairs or restoration work. Usually not a lot of work going on whenever i've been but I did see City of Truro a couple of times.
As for the Esteemed Health and Safety executive I often wonder if they work from home as it must be very dangerous having to leave the house.Imagine the risk assesments involved!

 

[spongebob]

I definitely agree John the carriage trust and the Bahamas society certainly allow a look at exhibits close up, some of which are virtually irreplacable nowadays. The loco works at Haworth used to be open to the public until about 18 months ago when there was a flood. Since then every time i've been the doors are always shut and it is a pity especially as i looked forward to seeing the progress being made on City of Wells and other loco's both steam and diesel.
I don't know whether it is as a consequence of the flooding putting insurance premiums up or what their reasons are it's virtually the only bit of the railway that is off limits.

 

[spongebob]

Yep i've been around Loughborough shed and as you say it is nice to see what is going on even if it isn't always much. The only way to see even slightly into Haworth shed is to go round to the picnic area down the side of the shed and you can see what is happening in the yard and just about squint into the dark interior of the shed.
With regards 47798 I think there is some unwritten rule that says former Royal loco's cannot be used to earn revenue hence most are scrapped on withdrawal (read it in a magazine report this month).
Why paint another loco in blue? as the loco carried inter city executive(47609) and swallow liveries( 47834)so why the same old scheme as everything else?
Presumably as it was repainted into executive colours it only wore the names with blue for a couple of years although how long it then wore exec before receiving the swallow livery is anyones guess though the pics on the class 47 gallery website show the loco in swallow livery in sept89 and may 94.
My god i can't believe i am actually debating the choice of livery of a loco on here i must be getting sad!

 

[spongebob]

As a claim to fame prior to royal duty the illustrious Fire fly was the first BR diesel loco into the channel tunnel in Feb 1994 whilst carrying the number 47834 and wering not BR blue but intercity without the swallow.
A far more suitable colour scheme to consider from presumably a much happier occasion than the ceremony supposed to take place at the GWR 150th birthday bash which was cancelled at Swindon due to the wonderfully timed closure announcement of that depot.