The Grand Tour

The Grand Tour

No, not Clarkson & Co spending Thousands of $'s a second to c*ock about but the Grand Tour of the National Treasures.

One simple thing struck us over the past couple of days. The Scotsman arriving at Bo'ness for the viewing public - as its prepared for a mainline tour, NOT pulling Passenger Trains, lined up at Bo'ness Station, NOT pulling Passenger Trains, admissible by a Platform Ticket and most definitely NOT pulling Passenger Trains.

It does seem a big shame that 60103 will not be going for at least one ride over the stunning Bo'ness Railway? In fact its a shame its missing out the Heritage Railways of the UK, apart from you know who and you know what.

Surely those that should benefit most from a visit by this National Treasure would be the Bo'ness, the Swindon and Cricklade, the Dartmoor and all of our other smaller railways in the UK? 

What's the worst that could happen?

Perhaps once the big green Loco has done its dues on the mainline it will indeed visit the smaller minnows of the Railway world so they get a bite of the cherry. 

Then, once the ticking clock of an impending multi thousand pound overhaul looms, the tins of Apple Green are warned up and readied for another speedy overhaul. Meanwhile, to fill the void we can rename a green Class 68 'Flying Scotsman' and the circle of life continues around again.

Hakuna Matata.