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ISSUE 59 - JANUARY 2001
INTRODUCTION
A rather sparse issue this month, but then it has been that time of year. I'm sure everyone will have plenty to report for the next issue?
Saturday 17th February is the deadline for Issue 60 of The Railcar.
TRA
Angel Trains Ltd have informed TRA after discussions about asbestos contamination with HMRI that they have decided that Class 117 vehicles at Shoeburyness can be sold as is, but Class 101 vehicles MUST be stripped of blue asbestos (crocidolite) prior to sale.
This is a very unfortunate switch from the stance taken during TRA's discussions with ATL over the past eighteen months, which was that de-contamination is unnecessary if a product containing asbestos (blue, brown or white) is sold "to be used for the purpose for which it was originally constructed". It's deeply disappointing, coming just a few weeks prior to the final withdrawal of these vehicles from service.
De-contamination will be performed by ATL's own contractors and charged to purchasers at cost (likely to be £5k-£6k per vehicle). Given a purchase price of up to £3k, plus transport, this puts the price of a two-car set at nigh on £20k. Plus the cost of re-assembly and making good, of course.
Clearly demand for Class 101s will dwindle to almost zero at this price.
All very unfortunate, given that scores of these vehicles have been deemed safe enough for operation in intensive public service since changing hands between British Rail and Angel, without any asbestos inspection, let alone de-contamination. Plus, there are numerous examples of similarly contaminated vehicles changing hands in recent years without first being fully stripped. So, we can't give up without exploring all avenues.
Does anyone out there know the relevant asbestos regulations well enough to understand how exemption may be granted, quite legally, in particular circumstances but not in others? Are there ways of managing transfer of ownership so that the pain of an expensive strip and re-assembly can be avoided?
One tongue-in-cheek suggestion we have received is that ATL should retain ownership of potentially contaminated vehicles and lease them to preservation groups at peppercorn rates! This will help ATL to avoid the massive up-front costs of de-contamination, should they have to scrap un-wanted Class 101 vehicles en masse. ATL own 73 Class 101 vehicles, and 73 times £5,000 is a not insignificant sum of money. The sale of salvaged parts (less dismantling, storage and administration costs) would of course be off-set against this. But, £350,000s worth....?
Rumours abound of one or more bulk buyers for Class 101s lurking in the wings. Unless there is significant demand for these vehicles outside the UK, then it is not immediately clear what the commercial attraction would be of bulk purchase of these vehicles, each with a £6k-plus price premium.
Any comments and suggestions you might have should be emailed or posted to the editor. Please indicate what you will be happy to have published on the website so we can share views and hopefully combine them into an effective strategy for dealing with this drastic situation.
NEWS
BATTERY MULTIPLE UNIT The society that hopes to re-open part of the Aberdeen - Ballater line, has succeeded in its negotiations with the East Lancs Railway and the liquidators of the West Yorkshire Transport Trust to purchase this unit. It will soon be moved to their base at Aberdeen.
SUPPLIERS
LIGHTBULBS The Dean Forest DMU Group are looking for 25-volt lamps for their guard's compartment on the 108 DMBS. This is a Thorn 'Pigmy' type, 25-volt, 15-watt, with a normal 'mains-type' bayonet cap fitting. Does anyone have ideas on a supplier?
CONTACTS
Chris Bull has no mobile phone at the moment, but can be contacted by e-mail at chrisbull_108dmu@yahoo.co.uk.
Kevin Dowd has a new mobile number, 0775 9000 570, and also now an e-mail address kevindowd@bushinternet.com. He would welcome calls from anyone intending to do some 101 bashing around Manchester - call him the day before you go and he can find out all the latest gen for you
PRESERVATION
CLASS 107 LTD This Winter's main project has been the refurbishment of the first-class saloon of 52031. The old lino has been removed prior to laying a new carpet. This will be followed by reupholstery of the seats with new moquette from John Holdsworth and Co. GNER HST 1st class material is being used, which might seem an odd choice but it is an excellent cloth with a period texture and appearance. Carpet is a transport material called Coral Classic FR by Bonar Flooring of Ripley, Derbyshire (Tel 01773 744 121). This material has a high fire resistance is very heavy-duty. It is recommended that it is fully bonded for maximum durability, but this means the old lino must be removed as the adhesive will not set otherwise.
Externally, Mike Froud is close to finishing the roof repaint at long last! This has been delayed due to lack of any sensible means of erecting scaffolding to one side of the vehicle on their siding at Bolton Abbey. Work has proceeded in fits whenever they have been running and able to leave it stabled overnight in the platform road.
The trailer coach 59791 has been running since the beginning of October. Recent work has included the removal of the heater fuel tank for cleaning and sealing of a leaking and unreadable sight glass. John Collins from Bletchley also visited in December and kindly replaced one of the jumper sockets that had a broken casting.
The group is purchasing 52005 & 52025 from Matthew Smith at the Swindon and Cricklade Railway and are planning to move them north in the near future for restoration.
DEAN FOREST The group has ordered a new front end from the fabrication people in York that did the NRM 108. This is for M56492 which has a bad dose of tin worm, and did not respond very well to the last lot of cutting, welding and filling in 1996.
TELFORD 104 The unit was finally formed into a 2-car set after the Christmas period. Frank tried to start the overhaul, but was defeated by the extreme cold. Instead he managed to get a heater on 53531 working, to get the condensation off the OUTSIDE of the windows... Batteries were predictably down after having had to use 53479 by itself as a shunter, the resident diesel having too much ice in the batteries to work properly. Early indications are that the unit will be rostered to run all year again, as there is no resident working kettle, and the shunter is required on PW trains.
WSR 103 Work continues fitting the woodwork for the lavatory walls in the DTC. The group is negotiating for the purchase of Pacer seats from W&W. The Class 143s are being refurbished, with the 2+3 seats being disposed of, these are more accurate for the Class 103 than what the group currently has.
- If you can help any of the following groups with their needs or information, please e-mail us at editor@railcar.co.uk
WANTED
Oil Separator - Eric Maxwell, of the Tanfield Railway (Tel. 0191 274 2002) is looking for an oil separator to work with a DMU exhauster.
Circuit Boards - 2 Tacho Generator circuit boards, if not available does anyone have a cct drawing? Gwent 108 Group.
Spring - Both Midland Railway Trust power cars have hydraulic fluid self-contained in the torque convertor. Does anyone have any info on the small spring in the quick release valve under the front of the bogie. We require some spares. Midland Railway Trust.
Tyre Gauge - Does anyone out there have a tyre thickness gauge, BR catalogue number 39/29799, that I can borrow? As per the VMI, I am adjusting and checking the speedos. Having made a test rig, I need the tyre gauge to get an accurate reading to set the speedo. Telford Steam Railway.
FOR SALE
CD-ROM - 101 Twilight CD containing over 100 high-quality digital photos of 20 units, in N. Wales and around the Manchester area. Cost £6.50 plus £1 p&p. Cheques made payable to "Gwent 108 Group".
QUESTIONS
Does anyone have the BR Cat Nos. for DMU glass or exact sizes of window panes for our Class 107 vehicles? It would be of general interest I'm sure, if anyone has this information, to produce a summary of all DMU glass and window rubber profiles? Mike Froud, Class 107 Ltd.
NEXT ISSUE : 17th January 2000