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Surprised nobody has spotted this - Steam engine being scrapped in 2012

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Maunsell man, Feb 2, 2012.

  1. Maunsell man

    Maunsell man Well-Known Member

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    Quote from the Elescar Steam below:

    "Additionally, the railway has recently sold the redundant frames and boiler of Avonside Class B4 No. 1945, for recycling".

    Shock - horror - outrage...
     
  2. irwellsteam

    irwellsteam Member

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    2012 actually IS the end of the world then.......
     
  3. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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  4. Avonside1972

    Avonside1972 New Member

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    Tis sad, especially as Avonsides are a bit thin on the ground, and there is only one 'new style' engine anywhere near steaming. I hope the frames were well stripped of spares. Sister loco Stamford could do with a few bits which would raise its chances of surviving. Currently it doesnt look all that good and its owned by a major heritage railway!
    In the next few years, I think this will become more commonplace as cash-strapped railways part with less hopeful basket cases that can reward them with a good cash injection, due to inflated scrap prices. Its been fairly commonplace in the Industrial Diesel Market.
     
  5. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    Good heavens, that's a surprise. Locomotives being broken up for parts - generally GWR for GW-newbuilds is one thing (like it or loathe it - it's happening). This is a new development, though not a surprising one in the current economic climate. A sad loss, but it sounded like a great deal of work was needed to save the locomotive. Are there any of the same class extant?
     
  6. Avonside1972

    Avonside1972 New Member

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    AE1917 (Pitsford)Earl Fitzwilliam, Elsecar. Currently needs major boiler work?
    AE1919 (Avonside No3)Cranford, AFRPS. Nearing completion? of a major overhaul including virtually new boiler & all platework.
    AE1971 St Thomas, Dover Transport Museum. Static exhibit in poor condition, currently undergoing repaint.
    AE1972 Stamford, Rocks by Rail. Static exhibit in poor condition, boiler believed to be in good condtion.
    AE2004 St Dunstan, EKR. Static Exhibit. Said to be in good condition. No plans currently to steam?
    AE2068 Robert, Stratford. Static Exhibit. Recently repainted whilst on loan to EARM, now returned. Indoors?

    AE2021 R.H.Smyth, RPSI. Broad Gauge. Currently under repair?

    Please note these are my comments and observations made and may not be 100% accurate.
     
  7. m0rris

    m0rris New Member

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    It is sad to see this and will probably be the first of many but the movement needs to have a long hard think about what can/should be saved.

    There's plenty of locos that need the funds now or to be taken into a dark place, have the spares recovered and to be put out of their misery... mainly industrials but many mainline locos as well. Out there there seems to be plenty of incomplete, not particularly notable late industrial locos - mainly of the austerity design amongst others, that have no real hope. There's also reems and reems of kit like the Bullied Pacifics that will never be restored. There need to be regarded as spares donors rather than future projects so that their resources can be used to increase the chances of other locos.

    Good bye Avonside 1945, it seems a shame to go after so long in "Preservation" but the inevitable comes for us all.
     
  8. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    You may regard these locos as spares donors but it is unlikely that their owners do just now.
     
  9. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    In fairness it is probaby wise to post the whole quote rather than the soundbite headline (which of couse is the way of our railway press) to drum up a response

    "Additionally, the railway has recently sold the redundant frames and boiler of Avonside Class B4 No. 1945, for recycling. This loco was purchased in component form with a view to the useful assets being removed to help restore the railways own Avonside loco, Earl Fitzwilliam. The con-rods have also been sold on to a steam locomotive preservationist for use on another restoration project. The funds raised from the recycling 1945 will be used to fund heavy maintenance work on the Mardy Monster in anticipation of a busy 2012 season of operations."

    Elsecar Heritage Railway
     
  10. Maunsell man

    Maunsell man Well-Known Member

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    Oh I could have done...
     
  11. BT803

    BT803 New Member

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    Right, I've mulled over whether to get involved in this thread or not, and on balance I've decided I should.

    I was intially approached by the owner of AE1945, who was looking for a new owner as he was unable to continue the restoration himself. He approached me because his father and mine had been friends at Bala Lake Railway years ago. However as my interest is primarily in diesels I suggested that it would be more use to Elsecar and organised a joint inspection with members of the board and which it was agreed to purchase at a preferential price. Certainly at that time, there was no suggestion of scrapping the loco.

    I was further involved in moving the loco to Elsecar, and frankly I find it disgusting the railway has done this - without any sign of offering the loco for general sale.
    The loco was not a "no-hoper", the frames and wheelsets were in good condition and the boiler was, in my opinion, also in fairly good condition. It had been assessed by myself and another individual (who is involved in steam locomotive restoration) before Elsecar purchased it. The original idea had been to quickly bring one of the two AE's back into running condition and then restore the other one over time. If it was for spares why were items such as the boiler disposed of?????

    Yes I suspect the scrapping of steam locos may become commonplace in due course - but you would at least expect them to be offered for sale first.....
     
  12. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    An interesting twist.

    Perhaps it is not too late, as with the LNWR crane? Could the parts be traced and saved?
     
  13. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Funny, if the boiler was knackered and a new one built... No one would care about scrapping the old one...
    same for the frames, which are being made by the day for new build projects.

    But because there's no replacement people get upset..
     
  14. 3155

    3155 New Member

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    I believe that this loco was sold on by it's owners at the Nene Valley because all the Non Ferrous had been stolen, some time after purchase.
    I found out that the loco was to be disposed of by Elsecar , but I was too late to make an offer.

    Does anyone know it's current location?
     
  15. stan the man

    stan the man Member

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    Is the wording recycled supposed to make it acceptable as opposed to being scrapped?

    Damn shame if you ask me.

    Stan
     
  16. ghost

    ghost Part of the furniture

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    The RPSI example (2021/1928) 'RH Smyth' is currently at Downpatrick and I believe is still in use quite regularly.

    The loco under discussion here can be seen here: Avonside 1945 (photo from Industrial Railway Society website)

    It seems quite a beefy industrial and I know the RPSI and the DCDR both seem to love using 'Harvey' as she is strong and quite economical to use. She/he has also been used in 2 relay projects for NIR, hauling ballast trains for many weeks on a daily basis.

    It seems a shame that the loco was not offered for sale to the preservation world since it seems there may have been buyers waiting. Maybe there is still a chance if the loco can be traced before it is melted down.


    Keith
     
  17. irwellsteam

    irwellsteam Member

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    Seeing as it was sent straight to the scrapman , is there a chance it was sold for a VERY quick influx of cash?? Maybe some private dispute/legal costs? We all know how long it can take for someone to buy a scrap conditioned loco for restoration, but metal for scrap is readily bought is it not?

    (100% speculation on this, I don't know anything about the loco or the history of it/its owner(s))
     
  18. 22A

    22A Well-Known Member

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    How ironic; an Avonside dies to further the life of a Peckett.
     
  19. Avonside1972

    Avonside1972 New Member

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    Thats good news to hear about 2021.

    As for 1945, it had spent many years neglected at Wansford (not that I am critising them for that) and would have needed quite a major overhaul. My thoughts were, it would have made a good base for a CM&DPR style pannier tank, retaining the round top boiler so it could be returned to standard B4 shape at a later date.

    The real sad part will be if the parts have gone as these could seriously help out other members of the class. 1919 could do with a spare motion bracket as one is heavily welded after a hard life at Staveley steelworks, and 1972 needs several parts including 2 axleboxes, a chimney, and steam brake cylinder.
     
  20. 3155

    3155 New Member

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    The biggest irony is that the last Preserved Industrial Steam Loco which went for scrap was also an Avonside, Lord Camrose.

    Does someone out there not like Avonsides??
     

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