New class 70s

[61070]

It's been suggested elsewhere that the Beluga Endurance, which was apparently carrying a cargo of grain/seed for Belgium as well as the Class 70s, might pick 70012 up on her way back to the US. The vessel has departed Ghent this evening, so we'll see if she's heading for Newport in a day or two...

[61070]

Ship approaching Hamburg at the moment...

[strang steel]

it must not be going back ....looks as though it could be stripped here then

If history repeats itself, the loco will come to a permanent end on 3rd February as that is when John Of Gaunt died .

However, in those days the calendar was probably different so I am not sure what day that might equate to now.

[Autocar Publicity]

If history repeats itself, the loco will come to a permanent end on 3rd February as that is when John Of Gaunt died .

However, in those days the calendar was probably different so I am not sure what day that might equate to now.

The Gregorian calendar wasn't introduced until 1582, but if you work on the basis that the Julian calendar was out of sync with [nature's time] - which led to the Church altering the calendar so that Easter would be at a 'more appropriate' date, then in 1399 there was eight days difference - so either the 26th January or the 11th February depending whose calendar was used in noting his date of death. (Or even the 3rd February if your source had already adjusted the date to allow for this ).

Moving on rather swiftly, that's quite a bend in it. And it's green and yellow... 'Banana' anyone?

[redtoon1892]

There seems to be an orchestrated effort to remove every picture of this incident from the net.

[52D]

I agree redtoon it seems as though they are trying to hush up the incident. Incidentally has there been any official comment from HSE.

[AndyG]

There seems to be an orchestrated effort to remove every picture of this incident from the net.

Try this one http://martinturner.fotopic.net/p68663398.html .
It clearly shows the bend with the front wheels chocked to allow them to rest on the transporter.

Andy

[woberty]

"Whoops Emma"
I wonder who did a risk assessment for this kind of thing happening.

[52D]

The risk assesment is probably pretty valid, its the guy who did the last LOLER report on the Lifting equipment that should be having sleepless nights. Although in his defence no one can reasonably comment till we see the HSE reports after investigating the facts.

[Bryan]

Will there be a question raised about use of lifting tackle in this country that is not inspected by UK examiners?
I believe the ships own cranes were used for the lift and therefore the tackle will be registered elsewhere.

[52A]

Don't know where the laws stand on this one, I thought the MAIB may have gotten involved but up to now nothing mentioned anywhere.

[52D]

Bryan a fair point you have raised, I am a LEEA(Lifting Equipment Engineers Association) registered lifting gear inspector and will raise this question. The standard of lifting gear inspection varies in the UK but in general is done to a high standard. Lift plans and risk assesments should have been in place, lifting tackle is inspected at 6 or 12 month intervals depending on the gear and can also be inspected more frequently if required.

[61070]

I've been following the Beluga Endurance since she left Newport. She travelled to Ghent and then via the Kiel Canal to the Baltic, bound for St Petersburg. However she's been in the port of Rostock since Friday afternoon. Don't want to read too much into that as we don't know, but could it be that some repairs are in hand...?

Here are some movies of one of the locos being moved around the docks and lifted aboard the vessel 'stateside' - using the ship's crane. We used horses for shunting once, but the Yanks use CATs!

http://erieshipnews.blogspot.com/2011/0 ... tfort.html

[34F]

When I saw this picture one thing struck me was at least they havn't got a lot of logistical problems in putting back on the boat back to the factory.

[third-rail]

the main reason it has not gone back is that the great lakes are shut to traffic until the spring arrives.