Our overhead line inspection vehicle, HCT 022, left Longhoughton Goods Yard and was transported to Bo’ness to begin a period on loan to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society.
Checking over work took place over the weekend of 6/7 February and the machine has moved around the yard under it’s own power. The fuel system has had new parts installed. Operator training is to commence soon.
The machine is currently scheduled to be available for hire by other interested parties from 1 February 2011
The Heavy Duty staillage suitable for HCT022 was been collected from Romford yesterday by Allelys Haulage and was delivered to Longhoughton Goods Yard this morning.
Thanks again to ex Amec Spie and Network Rail staff that help us track down the stillage and make arranements for it to be transferred to us.
A considerable change is about to take place with regard the OTPPG machines at Longhoughton.
I have decided that it is now time to hand over control of the project to Dave Shell at Northumbria Rail – who has been looking after them for the last year anyway. This will mean that Dave is going to purchase the machines from me and take more general responsibility for their restoration. This concerns the Matisa 68030 and Permaquips 98702 & 98706 (98707 already belongs to Dave.)
On the surface this doesn’t change very much as nothing is moving and the process continues as it has done over the last few months. I will obviously still have an interest in the project (and indeed hope to see the Matisa started up again later in the year) but I now feel I have done all I can having initiated the machines’ rescue and movement and helped with part of their restoration. I am not able to contribute mechanically but I know that Dave and his team will do a good job to take the project further.
For the time being the OTPPG website will remain and will probably be updated by Dave but we will see how this works over the next weeks and months.
I’d like to again thank everyone who has been involved in this exciting venture since it began back in 2004. It’s been difficult at times and cost me a small fortune but its also been a lot of fun. I have good memories of my trips to Scotland and the Colne Valley Railway.
Ben
To bring things up to date, a quick round-up of what has been happening in the last month or so.
W&D McCullochs (conveniently based a few miles north of Stranraer) will help us clear the tracks in the shed at Stranraer and drag 68030 to a suitable position at the top end of the yard for loading. Heanors loaded a loco here in the past so we know it is possible and McCullochs seem to know the yard quite well. After further enquiries it seems they will also be able to sort out the T4 track possession for us which will be required from Network Rail in order to carry out this work and movement.
We asked the guy from First Engineering about clearing the junk off the track ourselves but it was going to be a Health & Safety nightmare so we thought it probably better (if more expensive) to get McCullochs to do the lot under their safety case. We don’t yet have a price from them for the clearing work and unimog hire although this should be forthcoming once the sale is finalised.
Heanor Haulage is the preferred contractor for loading the machine and transporting it to Essex. They make regular trips up to Ayr and so we are hoping to coordinate with one of these trips for the return trip with 68030.
With regard the Permaquip at Rutherglen, First Engineering have quoted us a very reasonable price for loading, transporting and unloading and so we will be using them for this move.
An official letter was sent to First Engineering with our offer for these first two machines 68706 and 68030 at the end of October and within the last few days we have heard that our offer has been accepted. Payment to FE as well as the associated paperwork will hopefully be completed over the next week or two and then we hope to get everything coordinated so that we can get both machines moved to the Colne Valley Railway before Christmas.
The visit to Perth & Kilmarnock to look at the TASCs has not yet been finalised – this will probably have to wait until early next year.
