Everybody's favourite!

I've had lots of suggestions for locos to include on the favourite page. Someone even wanted 'Thomas'! Although it wouldn't appear in my list of favourites the most popular request was for, yes, you've guessed already, 'Flying Scotsman'!
I know one enthusiast who' s main interest is in loco performance and he always refers to this loco as 'Flying Heap'! Well, I wouldn't be quite as critical as that although I have to say that I've had more poor runs with the A3 than good ones, indeed, now that I come to think of it, I've had some really dreadful runs with it but there have been one or two occasions when I've been quite impressed. I would really like to see how the loco runs and sounds now that it has been refitted with it's double blastpipe and chimney but I can't afford to travel at the prices now being charged!
In the early 80's 4472 was based at Steamtown, Carnforth and was a regular performer on Cumbrian Coast and Cumbrian Mountain Express workings. On the 31st May 1982 'Flying Scotsman' was on the Hellifield - Carnforth leg of a southbound CME and stopped at Clapham where we had this run past.

In early 1983, much to everyone's surprise 4472 was booked to work a train on it's old stamping ground, the East Coast Main Line from Peterborough to York. Such was the popularity that this developed into three trains run on three Sundays. One of the most remarkable features of the first run, on 27th February 1983, was the number of spectators who came out to see the loco. Indeed, when we stopped at Newark the entire population of the town turned out and descended on the railway station. Such was the number of people and the inadequacy of the policing that the spectators spilled over onto the running lines and their presence closed the ECML for some time! From the recording point of view the main interest was the ascent of Stoke bank soon after leaving Peterborough. Despite being sent on the slow line the A3 makes a fine sound reaching Stoke Summit at around 50 mph.

While I was being entertained by 'Clan Line' & 'Raveningham Hall' on the 10th November 1983 down the Welsh Marches others were getting a new route for steam in the book travelling behind 4472 from Manchester to Spalding. This train was operated to get 'Flying Scotsman' and some Pullman coaches to the London area to provide no lesser person than Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother with a ride behind the engine from Stratford to North Woolwich. Having completed its Royal duties the loco returned north on 24th November 1984 with The Fenman running from Spalding via Nottingham to Sheffield and Manchester before continuing over Sough to Blackburn. At least, that was the plan. Due to late running we never got beyond Manchester. There wasn't much scope for noise until steeper gradients were encountered west of Sheffield. In this recording 4472 sounds well passing Dore & Totley on the 1 in 100 climb from Sheffield and entering Totley Tunnel.

On the Carnforth to Hellifield section of the Cumbrian Mountain Express on 25th February 1984 was 4472 'Flying Scotsman'. At Wennington, having performed a couple of runs past the loco departs and sets out on the climb towards Clapham.