Stolen English Electric Pistons

All,
I am very sorry, and annoyed, to report that scum is on the loose yet again.
On Sunday 7th September 2008, 4 new pistons, which belonged to A1A Locomotives Ltd.'s 31418, had been reported stolen.
3 of these are in "as lifted" condition with rings and the other 1 is clean and minus rings, and as they are new they do not have stamps on the crowns, though are identifyable by A1A working members.
The pistons are of a standard EE design and can fit any English Electric 'V' engine from class 20 to 50.
The Midland Railway Trust and the Police have been notified of the thefts, and if anyone here has seen anything or knows anything to do with the thefts, please send me a PM ASAP, as a new set would cost the group £3000.

Thank you,

Daniel Baggaley (Aureol) on behalf of A1A Locomotives Ltd.

 

Were they stolen with other items or do you suspect they were lifted to order?'

 

Only things stolen, so suspected lifted to order.

 

If they have been lifted to order, then whoever is responsible has to be involved with or working of behalf of other preservationists? In my opinion they are gold-plated top notch scumbags. I hope your local police force has the nouse to follow this up properly.

 

Exactly, but pistons aren't exactly something you can carry away under your arm, so the whole operation must have had at least 2 people and a large car (say, range rover or transit) to match.
It's really sickening that there are such lowlife scumbags on this planet, but whatever, all I care about is that the group get their property back.

 

Sorry Ralph there are still "enough" around on the mainline and preservation, this is not the first preserved Diesel group we have seen targeted this way, remember 37905 & 906 control cards to mention one case.

It really is sickening that there are people around and indeed possibly other preservationists who dont care who they stand on to futher there own project.

There is equally nothing stopping these people selling parts like these to HNRC or RVEL at derby who both play parts in looking after Network Rails fleet of 31's, how would they know what they were buying especially like Dan said they are new and dont yet have stamps on the Crowns.

Good Luck to the A1A group in finding replacements and my donation to the cost of replacements will be in the post monday.

If anyone else is interested in donating i would suggest a visit to the Preserved Diesels webforum and i believe contact information for the A1A group is on there

 

The pistons stolen can be used in classes 20, 31, 37, 40 and 50, as they all have the 'V' shaped engine blocks.

 

"Hello Mr Reputable business man. Would you like to buy these 4 brand new Pistons for an English Electric engine? That's right, totally unmarked. No, cheques aren't necessary, cash will be fine. Yes, found them lying in the street i did."

 

Joke all you want slash

Various groups have seen this happen first hand

 

Gosh this really is bad; I just hope to goodness the immensly sad lowlives who did this somehow get caught-out; it's really sickening that this still happens!

 

I can remember making these pistons at GEC Accrington as an apprentice 35 years ago - they have a solid copper top if memember correctly... And loads of machining, turning. drilling and boring from a round copper ingot. I not suprised they cost that ammount !! hope you catch the B********

 

It may simply be that, high quality steel being of considerable value, they were simply stolen for scrap. My experience is that some will steal anything not bolted down unless given time to undo the bolts!