Flying Scotsman Encounters ‘Low-Speed’ Incident at Highland Scottish Station
Two individuals were transported to the hospital following a 'shunting' incident involving the heritage train, as stated by the police.
In the moments preceding scheduled embarkation, the venerable Flying Scotsman encountered a collision of subdued velocity with another historic locomotive.
This incident unfolded at the Aviemore Railway Station, nestled within the resplendent Cairngorms of the Scottish Highlands, at the precise juncture of 7.10pm on Friday. The station stands as the domicile of the Strathspey Railway, an antique railway line that ushers its patrons on a journey aboard steam-driven locomotives through the northern realms of Scotland.
As a precautionary measure, two individuals were transported to a medical facility, their injuries deemed not of a grave nature according to official police reports.
A representative from the National Railway Museum corroborated that one of the locomotives embroiled in this event was none other than the centenarian Flying Scotsman, a pioneer in steam locomotion, known for its historic feat of surmounting speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. This occurrence was delineated as a “shunting incident.”
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) promptly dispatched eight fire-fighting apparatuses to the scene, whilst the constabulary of Police Scotland attested to the treatment administered to additional casualties at the station.
Mark Ruskell MSP, the transport spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, conveyed, “It is presently premature to ascertain the causative factors of this episode. However, it is incontrovertible that a comprehensive inquiry must be instated.”
“Initial reports intimate that this transpired upon the heritage tracks, along the Strathspey Railway, involving the Flying Scotsman. This development has led to a temporary disruption in proximate mainline services, a requisite measure to facilitate the exigencies of the ongoing emergency endeavors.”
Ariane Burgess, the Scottish Greens MSP representing the Highlands and Islands Region, conveyed, “We await with bated breath for further elucidation regarding the precise nature of the incident’s genesis. Nevertheless, it has come to my knowledge that individuals have sustained injuries, and my sentiments of empathy and solidarity are extended towards them.”
The Flying Scotsman had been slated for a series of runs over the forthcoming weekend, projecting heightened activity along the railway line.
A sightseer, bound for a journey aboard the world-renowned steam locomotive on Sunday, bore witness to the aftermath of the collision.
Lewis Smith embarked on a journey from Glasgow, only to be taken aback by the presence of emergency services outside the terminal.
He recounted, “We arrived rather tardily and opted for a stroll into Aviemore in search of sustenance. As we traversed the station, we espied the Flying Scotsman alongside a fire apparatus stationed on the platform.
“We resolved to return and ascertain the cause, post-supper. At approximately 8:30 pm, we revisited the station and captured some snapshots of the locomotive.
“There didn’t appear to be any discernible anomaly, save for the entirety of signals on the main track displaying a resplendent crimson hue, yet it scarcely registered with me.
“Upon our return, we received a telephonic query from an acquaintance inquiring whether we had witnessed the mishap. Until we perused the news, we were entirely oblivious.”
A spokesperson for the National Railway Museum elucidated, “We can affirm that the venerable steam locomotive Flying Scotsman was embroiled in a shunting mishap at Aviemore Station. Further particulars will be disclosed once more comprehensive information is forthcoming.”
A declaration from the Belmond and Strathspey Railway expounded, “We can verify that on Friday, September 29, at 1815, a shunting incident transpired whilst the Flying Scotsman locomotive was in the process of being linked with the carriages of Belmond’s Royal Scotsman, which were stationary upon the historic rails of Strathspey Railway.
“The Flying Scotsman was on a sojourn to the railway as part of a prearranged outing.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland relayed, “Around 7 pm on Friday, September 29, we received a notification of a gentle convergence between two trains at Aviemore Railway Station.
“As a precautionary measure, a duo – a gentleman and a lady – were conveyed to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness by the Scottish Ambulance Service for medical attention. Their injuries are not deemed to be of a grave nature.
“A cohort of other passengers underwent evaluation by the ambulance service at the location and did not necessitate hospitalization. Investigations are underway to establish the entire scope of circumstances.”
