Final journeys to scrap of trains you’ve worked

[jagardner1984]

A question for those working in the industry - if you see one of these “final journeys” - does it make you a little …. Sad/Emotional/Nostalgic … in some ways, end of an era in a sense ? Or are you glad to see the back of them ? Or does it vary by stock type ?

 

[Class15]

A question for those working in the industry - if you see one of these “final journeys” - does it make you a little …. Sad/Emotional/Nostalgic … in some ways, end of an era in a sense ? Or are you glad to see the back of them ? Or does it vary by stock type ?

Sad and emotional, on the ones I’ve been on! (315s, 317s, 321s) but of course it varies.

 

[Wyrleybart]

A question for those working in the industry - if you see one of these “final journeys” - does it make you a little …. Sad/Emotional/Nostalgic … in some ways, end of an era in a sense ? Or are you glad to see the back of them ? Or does it vary by stock type ?

It is sad that the UK does not have an inclusive policy on rolling stock. I was born in 1962 and remember my mum taking me to Northampton in around 1967 on one of those beautiful new AM10s. A couple of decades later and they were shipped off to the LTS whilst some 317s appeared on the "Little Londons". Then the 317s disappeared and were replaced by 321s, then the 350s, then some 319s etc etc

why the periodical move arounds ? It must surely cost a lot of money in training

 

[Ashley Hill]

I always find it surreal seeing item’s going for scrap under their own power. Here’s a clip off YouTube showing 142s on their way to their doom.

 

[E27007]

Our old friends, SR Slam door emus, when condemned (often corrosion of the floor) for their euthanasia it was to be driven out of service on the juice, then allowed to coast by momentum into the non-electrified sidings at Clapham Junction.

 

[neilmc]

I always find it surreal seeing item’s going for scrap under their own power. Here’s a clip off YouTube showing 142s on their way to their doom.

So how does the driver get back home from the scrap yard? Maybe the TOC had sent a car and driver down to pick him up as one could be seen in the background. I always wondered this about steam locos when someone claimed to have seen them driven under steam to the scrap yard, I always thought this most unlikely.

 

[Ianigsy]

I suppose the other issue with DMUs and diesel locos is disposing of the fuel. With a move like the 142s to Newport, you need to have enough to get them there plus a contingency, but neither do you want large quantities of diesel in the tanks when they meet their final end.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

It is sad that the UK does not have an inclusive policy on rolling stock. I was born in 1962 and remember my mum taking me to Northampton in around 1967 on one of those beautiful new AM10s. A couple of decades later and they were shipped off to the LTS whilst some 317s appeared on the "Little Londons". Then the 317s disappeared and were replaced by 321s, then the 350s, then some 319s etc etc

why the periodical move arounds ? It must surely cost a lot of money in training

Network Southeast (as did the other sectors) , had a rolling stock strategy and nothing therefore to do with leases and contracts (let alone lawyers)

On NSE one of the key parameters was dealing with growth , as well as elimination of slam door operations - such that the 317's on the Northampton line went to West Anglia and LT&S (having been replaced on the Midland by the 319's) , and so on.

In some cases , cascades were driven by depot issues - 313's on the Watford - Euston DC (over supply of which on the GN) , resulted in the closure of Croxley Green depot , with significant cost savings.

 

[Magdalia]

Network Southeast (as did the other sectors) , had a rolling stock strategy and nothing therefore to do with leases and contracts (let alone lawyers)

On NSE one of the key parameters was dealing with growth , as well as elimination of slam door operations - such that the 317's on the Northampton line went to West Anglia and LT&S (having been replaced on the Midland by the 319's) , and so on.

The opening of Thameslink in May 1988 was the key event, with its requirement for new dual voltage class 319 trains. For outer suburban EMUs, the other redeployments followed from that. The situation then changed again quite soon after with the delivery of the large class 321 fleet.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

The opening of Thameslink in May 1988 was the key event, with its requirement for new dual voltage class 319 trains. For outer suburban EMUs, the other redeployments followed from that. The situation then changed again quite soon after with the delivery of the large class 321 fleet.

Very much so - and the 321's , (now meeting their end after a good and honourable career) - allowed the end of MK1 LHCS on the Northampton workings (as well as elsewhere)

Nothing quite like having a strategy , and a "guiding mind" , in charge of new rolling stock introduction and cascades.

 

[Harvester]

So how does the driver get back home from the scrap yard? Maybe the TOC had sent a car and driver down to pick him up as one could be seen in the background. I always wondered this about steam locos when someone claimed to have seen them driven under steam to the scrap yard, I always thought this most unlikely.

A steam loco would only be driven in steam for scrapping if sent to a BR Works for cutting up. Private scrapyards had no disposal facilities, so any steam engines arriving with condemned stock or dead locos would return LE.

 

[billh]

A steam loco would only be driven in steam for scrapping if sent to a BR Works for cutting up. Private scrapyards had no disposal facilities, so any steam engines arriving with condemned stock or dead locos would return LE.

Genuine question:What disposal facilities would a scrapyard not have for a loco arriving under its own power? The yard would probably be glad of a ton or two of coal , the fire would just be let to go out , I imagine, like a loco withdrawn at a running shed .
Disposal , in this context , refers to some prepping for its next turn, clearly not going to happen at a scrapyard.

 

[The Crab]

Genuine question:What disposal facilities would a scrapyard not have for a loco arriving under its own power? The yard would probably be glad of a ton or two of coal , the fire would just be let to go out , I imagine, like a loco withdrawn at a running shed .
Disposal , in this context , refers to some prepping for its next turn, clearly not going to happen at a scrapyard.

Could be a problem if an engine arrived with a full head of steam and no water in the tender.

 

[neilmc]

Could be a problem if an engine arrived with a full head of steam and no water in the tender.

A live steam loco with its fire and steam under pressure is inherently a dangerous thing, you'd never just leave one in a private siding in a scrapyard (yes I know a few scrapyards had their own steam shunter but that was something they'd be used to dealing with). Also there's the issue of how do the crew get back home when their loco has gone on a one-way roster.

 

[ExRes]

So how does the driver get back home from the scrap yard? Maybe the TOC had sent a car and driver down to pick him up as one could be seen in the background. I always wondered this about steam locos when someone claimed to have seen them driven under steam to the scrap yard, I always thought this most unlikely.

They usually use an old driver who is scrapped after delivery to save on pension costs