Flying Scotsman

[brainiac]

Does anyone know why Flying Scotsman now sports 'blinkers'. Not sure what the proper name for them is, but I don't see what practical use these two boards at either side near the front of the locomotive could have. Can't be smoke deflecting or streamlining, can it? I've seen lots of other engines with them, but old footage of FS does not show them.

[Calibax]

Yes, they're smoke deflectors
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoke_deflectors

[Oldred]

http://blog.nrm.org.uk/many-guises-of-flying-scotsman/

interesting reading here

[Togo]

They are smoke deflectors brainiac. I went to see The Flying Scot at Llandudno Junction earlier this year, and although a magnificent sight, I couldn't help think of Trigger's broom.

[quizman55]

These are smoke deflectors to give the driver a better view of the track ahead when traveling at speed. This is the form that Flying Scotsman ran in the latter years of its existence with British Railways, hence the number 60103 which it carried at the time, not 4472 which was its LNER number.

[brainiac]

Many thanks for your answers. My guess would have been smoke deflectors, but it seems a bit odd, as the chimney is above and behind the blinkers! I suppose they funnel the wind in some way to take smoke away more quickly.

[tonyav]

The Flying Scotsman is in my neck of the woods for the next few days.

http://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/2016/09/21/flying-scotsman-in-the-west-midlands-steam-up-as-fans-get-set-for-visit/