Carnforth Motive Power Depot

[Mcr Warrior]

Was on a journey passing by/through Carnforth station on Saturday.

What's the current state of play as regards the rows and rows of extremely dilapidated looking (and quite possibly life-expired) rolling stock at the South end of the former Carnforth Steamtown site?

Whole place is something of an eyesore and looks a bit like the railway equivalent of Albert and Harold Steptoe's fictional London scrapyard!

Anyone in the know?

 

[matt]

Spares for the active coach fleet.

 

[lyndhurst25]

As are the dilapidated parcels/mail vans that have been dumped in a surfing at Hellifield for 10+ years.

 

[fgwrich]

As are the dilapidated parcels/mail vans that have been dumped in a surfing at Hellifield for 10+ years.

I should hope they haven’t been dumped in the surf, or the tidal reach has increased to reach Hellifield

Although they might not look particularly pretty, it’ll mostly be for the B4 / B5 and Commonwealth bogies (LSL are standardising on the former) and running equipment such as brake cylinders / rigging etc.

 

[DarloRich]

Whole place is something of an eyesore and looks a bit like the railway equivalent of Albert and Harold Steptoe's fictional London scrapyard!

they are for spares and repairs.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

they are for spares and repairs.

Thanks for clarifying. Certainly much of the redundant carriage stock stored at Carnforth appears to be beyond renovation. What you say makes complete sense.

 

[DarloRich]

Thanks for clarifying. Certainly much of the redundant carriage stock stored at Carnforth appears to be beyond renovation. What you say makes complete sense.

They are pretty rotten by the looks of them!

 

[bleeder4]

On Saturday's Saphos trip we were stationary at Carnforth South for 40 mins whilst the steam changed over to electric and the discussion on board was all about that rusting rolling stock. We were right next to them during the loco change. They all seemed very dilapidated and beyond restoring, so the general consensus amongst us was that they were spare parts for the rest of the fleet. It's not a good look for WCR, a few people on board hadn't heard about WCR before so their first experience of the company was seeing all those rusting carriages.

 

[Iskra]

On Saturday's Saphos trip we were stationary at Carnforth South for 40 mins whilst the steam changed over to electric and the discussion on board was all about that rusting rolling stock. We were right next to them during the loco change. They all seemed very dilapidated and beyond restoring, so the general consensus amongst us was that they were spare parts for the rest of the fleet. It's not a good look for WCR, a few people on board hadn't heard about WCR before so their first experience of the company was seeing all those rusting carriages.

They did have a tidy up about 10 years ago, and for a while they seemed to cover up the worst of the derelict stuff with a rake of okay-looking maroon carriages but in the last couple of years they have been absent so it looks unsightly once again.

Personally, I find their collection quite interesting historically and it is nostalgic to see some retro liveries that can be quite rare nowadays as well as some unusual vehicles.

 

[fgwrich]

Not all of them are for spares - there is at least 1 Met Cam Pullman which has been stripped back for Asbestos removal. It's awaiting it's turn back into the cue for putting back together and refurbishment.

 

[Meole]

On Saturday's Saphos trip we were stationary at Carnforth South for 40 mins whilst the steam changed over to electric and the discussion on board was all about that rusting rolling stock. We were right next to them during the loco change. They all seemed very dilapidated and beyond restoring, so the general consensus amongst us was that they were spare parts for the rest of the fleet. It's not a good look for WCR, a few people on board hadn't heard about WCR before so their first experience of the company was seeing all those rusting carriages.

They have probably heard of the Jacobite.

 

[randyrippley]

On Saturday's Saphos trip we were stationary at Carnforth South for 40 mins whilst the steam changed over to electric and the discussion on board was all about that rusting rolling stock. We were right next to them during the loco change. They all seemed very dilapidated and beyond restoring, so the general consensus amongst us was that they were spare parts for the rest of the fleet. It's not a good look for WCR, a few people on board hadn't heard about WCR before so their first experience of the company was seeing all those rusting carriages.

nothing but an unlicensed scrapyard