Two exiled A4s to return from North America for two years - official

I've read in the mags that the move has been sponsored. Whatever happens, you just can't please everyone all of the time, and there'll always be those who say 'money should go here, there and everywhere else'. Whilst technically right in the case of Barry restorations losing out, such a state of affairs would impose on freedom of action and spontanaety, two fundamental aspects of why I find the current scene, for all its faults, interesting. Take the move of the E1 to IOWSR, for instance. If the NRM does manage to get four A4s together at Shildon a week Saturday (a tall order at this date if they haven't yet shipped from Canada), I'm hoping to pop up and see them before the restoration commences.

 

Nor me. No such thing as too many A4s.

 

Not sure of the figures, but the move is being for an episode of "Monster Moves", which I imagine should bring in a bit of dosh for Moveright.

Richard

 

Rumour has it they have landed back home, is there any further word on them going on display in the UK?

 

Haven't heard anything about them arriving. 'Atlantic Cartier' left Halifax yesterday morning & arrives in Liverpool next Tuesday lunchtime. Could they be on board this one ?

Bob.

 

Not yet on both counts...

 

My source was talking rubbish then! Waiting tentatively to book my train tickets to go see them!

 

Latest suggestion is that locos are expected to arrive in Liverpool around 25 September but arrival at FREEPORT means no access to anyone but approved personnel; I understand that NRM / Mortons will decide who will be "authorised" and dock security staff will ensure compliance.

 

D of C, was loaded, secured, wrapped and ready to leave Exporail on Sun 2nd, and I just heard she has left CN's Taschereau yards (Montreal) this evening on CN400 heading east for Halifax. She is on a four truck heavyweight flat car, facing backwards, and her tender is on a regular flat car along with Moveright Internationals equipment container. Not sure when she is expected to arrive in Halifax.
View attachment 5526

 

Thanks Owd Sweedy for the update and picture

 

The area can be seen from the main road BUT it depends on what is stored in front of observers [i.e. containers ]. I expect the 4 loads will depart from the docks by Seaforth flyover exit and reach the M62 by Switch Island [A5036] and M57 BUT that is only my guess. I would expect a night-time move when traffic levels are at their lowest but much also depends on the tides which will affect dock arrival times and the time needed to unload, check and clear the 4 loads from the Freeport area.

 

There is only one exit that they can use, which is the main Freeport entrance. I can get past the main gate by waving my pass (or sometimes just waving !), but if I ever need to go onto one of the ACL ships I have to send the ship an e-mail & they then authorise the inner security gatehouse at the berth, who let you in on production of photo i.d.
The best spec is to drive over the flyover & see if the engines are visible somewhere near the ship.

Bob.

 

Latest video up on Youtube today of Dominion of Canada at the front end of CN train 5788 East crossing New Brunswick -- tried to load a link, but not savvy enough -- go to You tube and search for CN 5788 East .. Its under a tarp with the tender same as Dwight -- but still a record of it s trip across eastern Canada

 

Hi Athelney, yes, D of C arrived at Rockingham yards, Halifax, at lunchtime today (Mon 17th).
I wonder, when was the last time that these two A4's shared the same track?
Cheers,
Owd Sweedy

 

Well thats got to be a few years back -- maybe Kings X depot
in the 1960s ------ unless anyone knows better . Thanks for the info Owd Sweedy

 

Dominion of Canada arrived in Halifax yesterday as noted. Information i have seen from well connected railfans in Halifax is that the next three days are booked for moving both locomotives onto their shipping pallets and being untarped for inspections, and that they are booked to sail Sept 25 on the Atlantic Conveyor for Liverpool.

 

Atlantic Conveyer, that name rings a bell. Was it a ship involved in the Falklands War?

 

Different ship, same name.
The ship involved in the Falklands burned and later sank after being hit by missiles.
40106 was named after the ship in commeration of the crew who died.

 

Slightly offtopic, but I was wondering if it was one of the ships that carried 4472? I know one was California Star.