MAN Colchester (home of the Valenta HST engine) to close

[Alfie1014]

Sad news announced today; the the MAN factory in Colchester, (formerly Paxman where the Valenta engines that originally powered HSTs were made), is to close at the cost of 80 jobs. Originally and up to now the plant specialised in fast marine engines (which the Valenta was derived). It has been many years since there was any railway activity in the site I believe. Operations to be concentrated at MAN’s plant in Stockport.

 

[43096]

Sad news announced today; the the MAN factory in Colchester, (formerly Paxman where the Valenta engines that originally powered HSTs were made), is to close at the cost of 80 jobs. Originally and up to now the plant specialised in fast marine engines (which the Valenta was derived). It has been many years since there was any railway activity in the site I believe. Operations to be concentrated at MAN’s plant in Stockport.

Many years since there was any railway activity at Colchester? Try up until earlier this year - Colchester was responsible for the maintenance and overhaul on the East Midlands VP185 engines.

The loss of that work will be part of the decision to close the site. It should be noted they tried moving VP185 production to Stockport several years ago and it didn't go well.

 

[DB]

Many years since there was any railway activity at Colchester? Try up until earlier this year - Colchester was responsible for the maintenance and overhaul on the East Midlands VP185 engines.

The loss of that work will be part of the decision to close the site. It should be noted they tried moving VP185 production to Stockport several years ago and it didn't go well.

Are VP185s in use in anything else currently (standby gensets, ships, etc)?

 

[43096]

Are VP185s in use in anything else currently (standby gensets, ships, etc)?

Yes and yes to those examples.

If you’re interested in Paxman and its engines then the Paxman History website is a superb resource. For the VP185 uses, this page is most relevant: https://www.paxmanhistory.org.uk/applics1.htm

 

[DB]

Yes and yes to those examples.

If you’re interested in Paxman and its engines then the Paxman History website is a superb resource. For the VP185 uses, this page is most relevant: https://www.paxmanhistory.org.uk/applics1.htm

Thanks - that looks well worth a read.

 

[Spekejunction]

Colchester was once a large Engineering centre.
Davy Paxman ,MG Electric and Woods of Colchester come to mind.
Really sad.....

 

[Richard Scott]

Colchester was once a large Engineering centre.
Davy Paxman ,MG Electric and Woods of Colchester come to mind.
Really sad.....

Didn't a firm make lathes in Colchester at one time or did I imagine that?

 

[Bringback309s]

Didn't a firm make lathes in Colchester at one time or did I imagine that?

Yes, it was Colchester Lathes. On a site next to Hythe station between Colchester and Wivenhoe, now occupied by Tesco's. It shut down in the nineties They moved to Manchester I believe. https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news...he-maker-has-place-in-our-industrial-history/

 

[themiller]

Sad news announced today; the the MAN factory in Colchester, (formerly Paxman where the Valenta engines that originally powered HSTs were made), is to close at the cost of 80 jobs. Originally and up to now the plant specialised in fast marine engines (which the Valenta was derived). It has been many years since there was any railway activity in the site I believe. Operations to be concentrated at MAN’s plant in Stockport.

The forerunner of the Valenta was the Ventura. My last RN ship had 3 of them as 1 MW backup generators.

 

[swt_passenger]

The forerunner of the Valenta was the Ventura. My last RN ship had 3 of them as 1 MW backup generators.

Which class was that please?

 

[themiller]

Type 82 - HMS Bristol. It’s still afloat after all these years (45).

 

[swt_passenger]

Type 82 - HMS Bristol. It’s still afloat after all these years (45).

Of course, being Cosag propulsion the TAs would be considered the normal generators. “3 backup” threw me for a moment.

I was on a couple of County class in the 70s. I don’t remember our two diesel generators being referred to by the name Ventura at all, perhaps it wasn’t done back then, they were just YJ something or other.

An online Paxman info page suggests they were the same as Bristol’s though - I see they were all 16YJCAZ.

 

[themiller]

Of course, being Cosag propulsion the TAs would be considered the normal generators. “3 backup” threw me for a moment.

I was on a couple of County class in the 70s. I don’t remember our two diesel generators being referred to by the name Ventura at all, perhaps it wasn’t done back then, they were just YJ something or other.

An online Paxman info page suggests they were the same as Bristol’s though - I see they were all 16YJCAZ.

Interesting Paxman info at www.paxmaninfo.org.uk/
All the best from an ex-ERA

 

[swt_passenger]

Interesting Paxman info at www.paxmaninfo.org.uk/
All the best from an ex-ERA

Cheers. ex-OEA. Yes that’s the website whose info I was checking out. Loads of marine as well as on topic railway gen.