56098 (sort of) on the move

Spotted an unexpected visitor in the lorry park at Fleet Services on the M3 this morning:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jalapenokitten/3704681656/

I believe it left the MHR on Tuesday, and was reported to be parked up at the services at 7am yesterday - I certainly didn't expect it still to be there when I drove through at 11:45 this morning, though!

Now that's what I call a tea-break...

 

Or maybe complying with the tachograph regulations :smt002

 

If that's what the tachograph regs saw I wouldn't mind applying them at work. Shame it's a desk job...

 

Driver's Hours Regulations require daily rest periods of 11 hours, which may be reduced to 9 hours twice a week if away from base. Total driving limit in any 2 consecutive weeks is 90 hours. A 45 hour weekly rest must be taken when 6 consecutive or full diving days have been completed. This can be reduced to 24 hrs when away for base but must be compensated within 7 days of taking the reduced rest. A 45 minute break must be taken before 4hrs 30 mins continuous or accumulated driving has been completed. During periods of break or rest (daily or weekly) the driver must be free to dispose of his time as he wishes. Any (paid) work completed during those breaks will be a contravention of the Regulations. And that's just the basics!

A vehicle operating under STGO (Special Types General Orders) may be subject to route, time and escort restrictions imposed by the Highways Agency, Local Authority, Police or VOSA (Vehicle Operator and Standards Agency). None of these requirements may override the Drivers Hours Regulations.

All in all, the extended layover is probably due to a combination of the above factors - parking up at Fleet services is probably a better option than driving round the M25 during the rush hour at a top speed of 40 m.p.h. Mind you, being the driver stuck at any Motorway services for more than 24 hrs is not necessarily fun. Nowhere to go, charge for a shower, grotty toilets, no alcohol, overpriced food, poor television reception on your portable, gricers coming up to you and talking about your load. (And possibly trying to steal parts.) As if the driver knows anything about a Grid! Company policy says he won't be telling anyone where he collected it from or is taking it to. Not the most fun part of the job by any stretch of the imagination. Still, it can be worse. Try waiting at an International Border Crossing for 3 days whilst Customs check the paperwork. Extremely limited toilet facilities, no food, shower, or much else at all, and no one speaking the language.

 

That's pretty much what I expected (dont know the detail, but then haulage isn't my industry). According to another forum it was apparently laid up for (at least) another day after I saw it, so I can only imagine it was awaiting police approval or similar to proceed.

 

Hi all, I found this info on Preserved diesels today.
56098 is currently impounded at Fleet Services on the M3 due to the loco being over weight for the proposed route to Barrow Hill. It is planned to remove the locos bogies and transport them separately to Barrow Hill
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Any reason why it couldn't go by rail? Even if not main line registered, it could be towed. After all there has been quite a lot of preserved loco towing lately, Eastleigh open day for one & D1062 to the WSR.

 

I was wondering that too.

 

I do not know the specifics in this case but enything that goes over Network Rail has to have various bits of paper, including ultrasonic exams on the axles, this includes the Thomas that and wagons that go to Didcot from the West yard. It also assumes that a path could be found,which may have been an issue round London. I guess that finding a road haulier that would take the load worked out cheaper that all the exams, paper work and costs of towing, however depending on who pays for the crane etc. it may hve been cheaper by rail in the end. Is there a limit at which this enginee can be towed?

 

Link from UK-RAIL post.
http://tims-pics.fotopic.net/c1727020.html
Cheers
Alan

 

So is this the strangest place for a Locomotive to be lifted?

 

To move any (modern traction) loco over network rail it must have the following (except in special cases)

Full underframe exam.
Full wheelset exam (back to back measurements etc)
UAT exam
Air tank inspection/certification (or the provision of through piping and barrier vehicles upto the required brakeforce)
Fitness to run examination
Network rail registration
Relevant insurance
VAB acceptance

A loco and TOC capable of doing the move and a path!

Muchos £££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££ unless you are a wealthy person (or have some very nice friends with a Network rail certified loco etc) its just not economic to move a single locomotive via rail. Just look at the recent convoy to the ELR 5 different engines from 3 different groups/tocs from 3 different locations.

The figure that it cost to move all the engines to the great gathering at Crewe in 2005 escapes me currently but it was rather large!!!

To me this particular situation is a shambles, its up to the haulier to plan his route and make sure he is going the right way. To move transport like that over a route where there is not 1 but 2 weak bridges is sheer idiocy. Then to scarper when the loco is hanging in mid air (at no doubt to the cost of at least 2 cranes and 2 more low loaders to the owner) I hope Mr Stevenson takes the haulier for every penny!!

 

I believe from wnxx that is was the driver who decided to try the M3 route rather than the approved route.

All costs are down to the haulier.

 

lol the reason it is there is cus the haulage company driver decided it would be a gd ide to take a shortcut, then, whilst on his short cut the rozzers came up behind him and told him his load was too heavy....well gd init!! so they impowneded it at fleet and said it couldn't go anyfurther until the load was lightened.....

So, how do u lighten the load of a deail loco...wel...heres the answer.....


Hire two masisve cranes and lift the loco off the bogies, and seperate the laod like that, from what I heard the bogies were taken away and the body was left in fleet services waiting to be picked up

 

There are now a few photos of 56098 being propped up on sleepers at Fleet services.
http://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/2009b/56098_10.htm
http://www.preserved-diesels.co.uk/2009b/56098_12.htm

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