Iraq 8F Repatriation

M0rris, As I understand it from colleagues who have served or are serving in Iraq who share my interest in steam locomotives (and Hawker Sea Fury aircraft which we sold to Iraq many years ago) the Iraqi Govt is very keen to re-establish its proud cultural heritage, especially since so much was trashed and or looted over the last few years. The museums are re-opening, some tourists have already started to visit and I believe that Iraqi railway artifacts are also considered worthy of holding on to. Clearly I'm not in a position to say any more (I only got as far as Al Kharj in Telic 1 during 2003 myself) but from colleagues with more recent experience out there, the plan is to look after as much of historical interest as possible. This might preclude the export of an 8F back to the UK but it might actually happen if both Govt's decided it would be a good thing. Its in the public domain that we train Iraqi military aircrew and railway personnel so it would be a nice touch if an Iraqi 8F came "home" perhaps to the NRM as I don't think the NRM has one on display does it?

 

Aaah, so very much early stages of this then! Didn't realise that Iraqi traincrews got training through us! If this 8f is (possibly) coming home, but in a very long time are there any other examples of British locos seen home and away that can be brought back I understand there are some in Turkey, and are there any groups dedicated to returning these locos?
m0rris

 

Hi M0rris, there is a thread here on the Turkish 8F's

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=18037&p=268080&hilit=turkish#p268080

Neil.

 

Thanks, lets hope we get alot of good out of these ventures!
m0rris

 

I believe that the Turkish 8Fs are already on their way.

 

If anyone with knowledge about this loco would like to Email me the particulars, when it went out there,
it's whereabouts today, it's post WW2 use etc.
I will write a letter(one of those old fashioned things where you make marks on paper) to the
Cultural Attache at the Iraq Embassy in London explaining our interest in this loco and asking for
up to date information.
I have just found this link but the last time the page was updated was 2005 and the pic was taken in 2009.
http://www.ajg41.clara.co.uk/iraq/locom ... html#steam

 

That pic has been doing the rounds for years - it definately wasn't taken in 2009!!


Keith

 

Oops sorry, brain not in gear meant 2003. #-o

 

I think it's much older than that, it was taken during the first Gulf War if I'm not mistaken.

 

This photo could have been the cause of the Gulf War . George Bush was advised that 8F's were always black, so this must have been something else - ah, yes ,a weapon of mass destruction !

Has anybody tried to get hold of Mr. Yussuf Bin Had yet.

Bob.

 

I think you are right Martin - if I remember correctly there was a short feature in Steam Railway at the time, written by the man who had bought it.


Keith

 

IIRC It was Philip Wainwright of the Midland Railway Centre who bought it. I have a feeling I read more recently that the Iraqis eventually refunded the purchase price!

 

All the more reason to try to find out if the Loco still exists even, given the amount of looting and general lawlessness
following the invasion of Iraq, who knows what may have happened to it?
So if anyone has any solid info please get in touch, and as I said in my earlier post I will contact the Iraq Embassy
and try to find out if they have any plans for the loco.
Given the state of the Iraqi economy, even if the loco is still in one piece I doubt very much that its restoration
is at the top of their priorities.
Who knows, maybe if it takes an appeal through this forum to restore it and see it running again in Iraq it might be
just one small shuffling step on the road to friendlier relations between the people of our two countries.
Okay pie in the sky you may think, but I come from the John Lennon school of international relations, where acceptance
comes from the bottom up.

 

Does anybody know of its exact location? If the loco has been carted off to become wahing machines then it shouldn't appear on google earth surely as google earth is post the invasion of Iraq!
m0rris

 

That tender will be full of carefully packed spares, I remember them going out to deal with the loco and spent many days loosing gallons of sweat manhandling stuff inside the tender waterspace.
Phil now has 45491 and is making a nice job of it.

 

So does that man that the loco is definitely coming home? When did they go out to deal with the loco and assemble the spares?
m0rris

 

It isnt if you read the story so far.
The MRC team went out in the early '90's and were stopped by the 1st Gulf war. I didnt know the full story only what was talked about in messroom chat. All I remember is the talk of stuffing a tender with spares during a heatwave.

 

Does anyone have any recent info on the Greek rusting loco collection at Thessalonika? Evidently there are copious amounts of Austerity 2-10-0's,some 8F's,loads of S160's and more genuine yankee tanks than you can shake a stick at? :smt064

 

Look and weep, there do seem to be a few!
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gr/steam/pix.html
m0rris