Celebrating its centenary in 2023, LNER A3 Pacific No. 60103 'Flying Scotsman' would make its first run on home turf (sort of) working The Great Yarmouth Flyer from London Kings Cross to Great Yarmouth. After following the ECML to Hitchin, the train turned right and followed the Shepreth branch to Cambridge, pausing at Royston for water. Here the train would continue to Ely where water would be taken once more. From Ely the train would run via Thetford and Wymondham to Norwich where a reversal would take the train to its destination. The reversal positioned Flying Scotsman at the front of the formation ready for the return to London, which followed the same route.
Starting out at a grey Baldock, a small throng began to gather at a foot crossing. Unsurprisingly this was used as an opportunity for some trespassing. After the driver of 2C17 stops to tell the trespassers to go back to the safe side of the fence, a Network Rail response officer and the Police arrive! Once the situation is contained, the A3 is seen racing towards the camera. The temperature in the mid teens allows for a slight trail of steam as the loco climbs the short section of 1-in-198 towards Ashwell. Even with 12 coaches and a medium fire risk, 47802 was quiet at the rear.
Following the pathing stop at Royston, we next catch up with the train at Shepreth Branch Jn. Here the West Anglia Mainline from Liverpool Street meets the Great Northern route from Kings Cross. Having slowed to negotiate the sharp curve, 'Flying Scotsman' eases through the junction and clatters passed onto the next pathing stop at Cambridge.
After the shot at Wymondham didn't go to plan, the train is next seen on the return on the Acle Straight. Immediately after departing Great Yarmouth 60103 was easily able to get up to speed on the level gradients across the Norfolk Broads. Some cheerful toots from the crew and the train races under the bridge, 47802 still providing no assistance.
Lastly, the A3 is seen at Great Wymondley, south of Hitchin. The sinking sun provides some interesting light on the locomotive as it gets away from Hitchin and the junction to Cambridge. The exhaust grows stronger as 60103 approaches and steams away towards the first passenger set down at Stevenage. Even though the train was 6 minutes early, 47802 can be heard powering down, after some gratuitous screaming, at the rear!
Excellent to see 'Flying Scotsman' once again on good form, perfectly illustrating the quality of Gresley's design 100 years after it was built.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Baldock
01:52 - Shepreth Branch Jn
02:56 - Acle Straight
04:20 - Great Wymondley
Filmed on a Panasonic HC-X1500 with an AudioTechnica AT8024 microphone.
Enjoy.
