Engines Being Scrapped?

Are we the World Heritage Police? Surely it's up to the Finns to preserve their steam locos, we've got plenty of our own to deal with. Don't make me say 'Flying Scotsman'.

 

Am I missing something - which post are you referring to? Ray.

 

The Finns, the Poles, whatever.

 

I've just checked the beginning of this thread, yes, the topic is the possible scrapping of Polish locos.

 

moved on a long way since then.. at least one them being sold for scrap, is about to be steamed at Churnet Valley.

 

Good idea to quote that in your post then, to avoid baffling the readership.

 

I'm sorry if my posts have baffled any members, but on other forums it's usual to have the same topic at both ends of the thread.

 

Not on Nat Pres. Variety is the spice of life!

 

In a thread that runs for 18+ months Nat Pres can have changed sides three time, roused political feeling, banned several members and argued about the paint.

 

One of them is now running...

 

Just thought I'd drop by and add a comment to this thread.

I exported 5 TKh's from Poland to the UK in the late 90's. With the exception of the engine named Spartan, they were all dismantled in Poland, ready to overhaul. Every engine was in good condition, but not really up to British specs, but neither were ex NCB engines, and on average they cost a lot less than British industrials. each engine cost about £15,000 delivered to site, on two lorries. A low loader was far to expensive to use, so I thought taking them to bits, and using two standard 25 ton was about £5000 cheaper. I'm very disappointed to hear one of the has been scrapped, as I worked hard to save all of those engines. The Ol49 in Maldegem was also one of my projects, and was threatened with being scrapped. The railway at Maldegem, had agreed to take the loco, on a no charge, but they would overhaul it at the end of it's 10 year cycle. They have failed to keep their end of the bargin, and some of the British owners have given up, and wanted to scrap it. I'm trying to find a solution to the problem, which might even end up with the loco returning to Pyskowice for overhaul. That's not to say Maldegem will get of scot free.

 

As I understand it, the 'other' TKh referred to hasn't been scrapped but is in the overhaul queue at Cheddleton?

 

Which 5, as there's 6 in the UK according to Wikipedia? Don't know much of their history tbh, as a side-note if anyone can tell me more about 2944 and 2871 it'll help me update our website. Which loco has/is being scrapped out of interest? 2871 stored awaiting funding, plus manpower as the lads are working on S160 5197 atm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fablok_TKh49

 

As Corbs rightly points out, none has been scrapped. Of the seven locos imported to the UK, one is at Blunsdon in running order, one is running and one is stored at Cheddleton, one is being overhauled at the Flour Mill, one is (I think) undergoing overhaul at Pitsford, one is stored pending overhaul at Frodingham, and the seventh is now in Belgium.

 

Good news then. There was talk that at least one was going to be scrapped at the Tonbridge line, following the death of the owner.

The first TKh I exported was TKh 5387, which used to work at Cementownia Saturn, near Katowice, on the 31st may 1996 and was moved to PMP Pyskowice, by rail, to be repaired. It was retuebed and had a new cab built, but due to lack of time, it was never finished. It was attached to a international rail transport that I arranged from Gliwice to Maldgem consisting of 4 Slask's, Ol49-12 and TKh 5387. TKh 5387 ran a hot box and was dropped off the transport at Opole, and recovered later by Low Loader to the Northampton line.

TKh 2944 was bought 7/7/1997 from Huta Malapanew. Ozimmek, near Opole, and was shipped to the UK on two lorries.

TKh 3135 came from Huta Skawina, Near Krakow, and left there on the 3/4/1997, on 2 lorries, for Tonbridge

TKh 2871 was given a major overhaul at ZNTK Olesnice and never used. It was the last TKh I bought and came from Huts Skawina in 1998.

Two other TKh's 5380 and 5697 were purchased to come to Britain, but were never exported, despite having all the necessary paperwork completed. These engines remain in Pyskowice Museum Depot to this day. They were bothe from Huta MalaPanew, near Opole, and moved to Pyskowice in 1998.

The other TKh's in Europe were supplied by H Smittendorf, with the help of ZNTK Pila, and one other to Northampton by another person, who slips my mind, but was a very bad loco.

 

Was 4015 ('Karel') one of the H Smittendorf ones?

This is the one usually based at the AVR and currently under overhaul at the Flour Mill.

Someone mentioned that some of the locos have been modified to better suit UK loading gauge - does anyone know which ones have and which haven't?

 

The operational one at Cheddleton has had a bit of a shave, but as far as I'm aware the rest are still as delivered.

 

The loading gauge issue, is a really minor one. As I recall, they fitted GWR loading gauge. The problem was cab steps, and buffer steps. I was not aware of any other problems.

4015 was the first Lamport railway TKh, and was imported by two British guys, who sold the engine from Poland sight unseen. When I saw the engine, I was shocked at how much he had paid for such a bad engine.

Smittendorf supplied the ones in Europe, not in the UK.