Flying Scotsman Spring Replacement 22/02/16

During final checks to the Flying Scotsman before its inaugural run one of the leaf springs was found to be broken.

Riley and Son (Engineering) Ltd contacted Owen Springs Technical Sales John Whittaker, who left the plastering of his bathroom and headed into work on a Sunday afternoon to ensure a replacement spring would be ready to go back onto the engine the following day.

The spare spring for this part of the train was awaiting the go ahead to be overhauled and fortunately it was only missing the buckle from the centre of the spring. Production Manager Steve Sowden opened our doors at 4am Monday morning to light the furnaces so that with the help of his production staff, the new buckle could be heated up and assembled to the spring.

The spring was then loaded onto our van and John made his to The National Railway Museum where it was fitted to the Flying Scotsman.

The video below shows the replacement spring being lifted into place ready for the floor to move up and the spring be fitted.