Topic: 43178

2010 Calendars

Posted by Admin on Tuesday, January 19, 2010

We still have a few 2010 Calendars remaining, you can purchase these through the Online Shop in the menu on the left.  

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Preservation Progress

Posted by gary on Sunday, April 20, 2008

And so we move on through our preservation efforts and to the biggest delivery in one move to date. First Group kindly offered us some of their surplus Valenta engines, together with a cooler group. Porterbrook also were kind enough to offer a cooler and so on 12th October 2007 we sent two lorries to Brush in Loughborough to pick up Valenta engines S148, S444 and S479, along with Marston Coolers 71091 and 71151. The move went to plan and the convoy arrived at our secure site without any problems.

Of the Valentas, S479 is a bit of a star, having been the featured engine in our “Midland to Manchester” DVD, which is still available on this website – click the Sales tab to the side to get the DVD and savour the sound in your living room! The engine is in good condition and was working when removed. S444 is not entirely complete – it has a good block, but the turbo and intercooler are missing. We’re keeping it, as the main parts are sound and we will have parts we can swap around to get the engine operational again, should the need arise. S148 is a strategic move: it is of the earlier recessed deck type of Valenta and we aren’t that interested in the engine as a whole. However, there are many parts that can be robbed from the engine for the rest of the fleet and economies of scale mean that it’s more cost effective to take the whole engine, rather than rob at a scrap yard or similar.

Of the coolers, Marston 71151 is a long term asset as it is in good condition generally. However, we can’t keep more than about 4 whole coolers, as they are rather bulky. As the framework is predominantly aluminium, they do not suffer from rust and we expect them to last for many years yet. As a consequence, 71091 was only ever a short term acquisition being stripped for parts in March 2008. The saved gearbox and radiator panels have been palletised and then shrink wrapped for safe keeping.

Click here to view Valentas S148, S479 and S444 ready to leave Brush

Click here to view one of our Marston Cooler Groups taking a ride around Brush on a forklift

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