fgwrich
Established Member
And this is the problem that has always been their pitiful, and one Network Rail were all too aware off only a few years ago. There’s a reason why they were keen to offload their 31s, and with the price of new wheel sets, that’s it. And sadly, unless various 31 owning groups get together to get ahead of the growing situation, I can only foresee either more 31s heading down the same route or, expensive appeals when it comes to new wheels.""Seemed" is a good word.
Truth is it is 107 tons of various metals - an asset or an encumberance.
I remember Harry Needle posting on a forum about the achilies heel of the class 31 is the cannon tubes in the suspension, as well as the centre axle having wheels 4 inches less in diameter than the powered axles.
Class 31s will be off to the scrapyards and only the fittest, and owners with deeper pockets will remain.
Sad fact of locomotive preservation #236