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NRM explains the problems with 4472 Flying Scotsman

At the end of May, iconic A3 No. 4472 Flying Scotsman was unveiled at the National Railway Museum, York, in a blaze of publicity after a major overhaul and ahead of a period of running-in.

Four months on, it was expected that the loco, which was presented to its supporters in wartime LNER black, would have been certified and returned for the mainline for a ten-year stint.

Sadly it’s gone rather pear-shaped, and the loco may not be seen in steam until Spring 2012.

So what’s gone wrong?

After the loco had been moved from display at York back to the Buckley Wells workshops of Riley & Co (E), cracks were discovered in all six driving wheel horn blocks, so the decision was made to remove the wheels and rectify the cracks through welding and grinding.

During a subsequent examination of the loco, one of the staff noticed what appeared to be a paintbrush hair on one of the frame stretchers. Trying to pick it off, it soon was apparent this was a crack in the paintwork. Further investigations showed this was a serious crack, and detailed examinations revealed more cracks on the stretcher, between the 2nd and 3rd driving wheels.

Head of the NRM Steve Davies, decided that a full audit of the loco was needed, and this revealed a number of other faults including a cracked motion support bracket, and axle journals out of true.

Exactly why and how these cracks were not picked up at an earlier stage is subject to an ongoing internal NRM inquiry.

Having discussed the situation with trustees of the National Museum of Science & Industry (NMSI), the decision was to push a head with the full extent of the repairs the are now needed.

Mr Davies is adamant that he wants the loco to run for a near to possible for it’s full ten-yearly certificate, and not be withdrawn for major repairs after 3-4 years as would have been the case if these cracks had been temporarily welded.

Instead, a new frame stretcher has been fabricated. As cracks on A3 frame stretchers were not unknown, the stretcher is of the modified design, and in two parts.

To reduce stress on the rest of the frames while the stretcher is replaced, the boiler has been removed.

The cost of the extra work is being funded by the NMSI, so there will be no delay, and the target date for getting Flying Scotsman back into service is the late Spring of 2012.

As part of it’s early return-to-steam activities, it is hoped that Flying Scotsman, as a true British icon, will carry the Olympic flame just before the start of the Games in London in July 2012.

A full story of the problems with 4472 will appear in the December-dated issue of The Railway Magazine.