£60,000 cost of 'Scotsman' trespass
 

The delays caused by people trespassing during 'Flying Scotsman's Inaugural Run has cost Network Rail £60,000 in fines.

http://www.fenlandcitizen.co.uk/news...-000-1-7263885

I can't quite believe some of the photos of people actually standing on the main running lines - they apparently haven't been prosecuted but I really think they should be. It is so dangerous and irresponsible.

Tony

Thanks for the link Tony, 8 hours in delays and £60k in fines brings home the extent of the problems caused. I doubt whether any that were involved in the trespass were genuine regular railway photographers, I've been out quite a bit myself over the years and rarely seen people on the wrong side of the fence, and never close to the running lines.

I think N.R.and B.T.P. need to get their act together before the next run as I don't see the problem going away in the short term. In my opinion this is due to the over the top hype from the NRM and media sources over Scotsman's return to steam. Is this machine so much more important than any other steam loco? What is the significance of its return compared to Royal Scot, which had its first main line revenue earning run on the same day as Scotsman, in my mind the latter was equally important, but I doubt it ever got a mention outside the railway fraternity, and even there the coverage was very low key in comparison

The over done hype is highlighted in the latest issue of Heritage Railway magazine with a picture of Scotsman on the cover, another on page 3, a 3/4 page article on it's Kings Cross to York run, a full page about the non sale of its original nameplate, a thirteen page special feature including a double page photo covering the middle pages, and if that isn't enough a large poster included as well. The report on Royal Scot's first run was covered in four or five paragraphs with a couple of pictures, less than a full page in total

Too late I'm afraid Ken - reports of people trespassing on track at Eaglescliffe during 'Flying Scotsman's light engine move from York-Grosmont.

BTP apparently "warning" people that if found trespassing they face going to court, up to £1000 fine & a criminal record, but they don't seem to be taking much action as yet.

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/new...Moors_Railway/

I agree that the return of 'Royal Scot' has received far less coverage than 'Flying Scotsman' - I think the publicity & hype has been whipped up by the NRM and swallowed by the media at large as 'Flying Scotsman' is probably the most famous loco as known by the (non-enthusiast) general public. Whilst the publicity is good news in terms of getting the 'steam message' across to the general public, the trespassing has also brought negative headlines.

Tony

Time for the issuing of a few fines.

When they have to battle so hard to get the message across to youngsters to keep away from tracks ....

Okay, people are excited about a once in a lifetime event, but no excuse for irresponsible behaviour.

You're right Tony, the genie is out of the bottle I'm afraid. You are also correct in pointing the finger at the NRM for the hype.

They must have thought the nightmare that they lumbered (not sure if that is the right word) themselves with was ended when the overhaul was completed. However, they could end up with a loco that fewer and fewer people will want to hire because of the logiistical problems in crowd control etc.

I wonder if the Severn Valley Railway are thinking that after booking it for the Autumn Gala. They have already basically scrapped the normal gala formula, and aren't even calling it a gala now, for which they have received much criticism. I hope it is a financially lucrative weekend for them, at least enough to justify the headaches they will have to deal with

BTP apparently "warning" people that if found trespassing they face going to court, up to £1000 fine & a criminal record, but they don't seem to be taking much action as yet.

Start by Getting out there and nicking ALL those whose photo's can be clearly seen then?
:mad:

More problems around the A3 - a man fell from the platform at Grosmont on to the track in front of (a thankfully stationary) 'Flying Scotsman'.
In a separate incident, a drone camera crashed into one of the coaches of a train hauled by 'Flying Scotsman' - BTP are investigating.

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/new...ying_Scotsman/

Tony

This is getting silly, and the enthusiasts will pay alongside the idiots, when the events are stopped on the mainlines.

Plenty of photos of the trespassing idiots during the 'Inaugural Run' in the latest Steam Railway - I hope that BTP will identify and prosecute based on all the photographic evidence available. There are quite a few people who have children with them on the tracks - unbelievable!

Tony