Richard Marshall True to His Word....

I am indebted to the new Cabinet Member for Leisure, Richard Marshall, for replying in detail concerning the Sandwell Great Train Robbery.

For the background to this story please see:

http://thesandwellskidder.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/sandwell-fcked-over-by-hortons-again.html

Firstly here are the details of the expenses for the loco, "Roger's Folly":

In or around 1988 SMBC purchased from British Rail a diesel locomotive engine now known as “D5410” and/or “The Sandwell Locomotive”.

Please state:

1   The original purchase cost;

Answer: 27059 was purchased at a cost of £20,000 which included asbestos removal charges.

2   The total costs for storage of the engine from the date of purchase to the present date;

Answer: From 1997 the locomotive was stabled at the Severn Valley Railway at no direct charge to the Council. SVR was provided with an industrial unit in Sandwell in lieu of a stabling charge.

3   The total costs of transporting the engine between various locations from the date of purchase to the present date:

Answer:

2015 - mainline running certification - £600.00;

2015 - From SVR to Barrow Hill depot in Leicester - £2,950.00;

2016 - From Barrow Hill to Cranmore, Somerset - £1,250.00.

I am unaware of any transport costs previously charged to the Council. The locomotive was moved to the SVR in 1992.

4   The total monies spent on removing asbestos from the engine and all other refurbishment costs to date;

Answer:

27059 was purchased following removal of all asbestos by British Rail.

Repainting of locomotive in 1961 livery in 1989 at a cost of £6,950.00;

Parts and ultrasonic testing in 1989 - £2,250.00.

From 1992 to 1997 a sum of £3,100.00 was paid annually to the Diesel Traction Group at Severn Valley Railway for maintenance and stabling.

In 2015-16 the following costs were incurred:

Axle and bearing testing - £409.45

5   All other costs and expenses, legal costs and other ancillary costs of whatsoever nature from the date of purchase to the present date;

Answer:

Legal costs approx. £500.00 for preparation of leases and agreements.

6   State the current location of the engine;

Answer:

Cranmore, Somerset.

7   If SMBC has entered into a current contract for the restoration of the engine state the total contractual consideration and the contractual date for completion;

Answer:

N/A

8   If known, where is it planned that the refurbished engine will reside and at what ongoing cost?

Answer:

N/A

Cllr Marshall also supplied me with a report from November, 2014 from the curiously-named Nemesis Rail (who were unable to gain access to the underside of the locomotive for the inspection). The general mechanical condition of the loco engine etc was not too bad but the exterior condition was poor with severe corrosion to large parts of the skin and cabs. You might find this surprising as the comrades had paid nearly £7k to have it repainted for Rog Horton but then they let the "valuable heritage asset" rot outdoors for the last 10 years!!!!

Having let the deteriorate your "socialist" council now face the problem of what to do with it. Nemesis said this in late 2014:

Strangely, there is no mention in the above figures for the cost of Nemesis Rail's report?

Cllr Marshall says that the loco was built in Smethwick and is quite a rare thing (it seems there are only six to eight still in existence) though how many people/organisations want to own this particular model for posterity is a moot point.

You will note there has been some serious expenditure on this thing (including a swapsy with an industrial unit) but it appears that the plan is to lease it to a heritage railway. I assume that it would have to be a pretty long lease if such an organisation was going to have to bear the costs of restoration. Cllr Marshall says no decision has been made yet but that it is hoped that the lease option should entail "Sadwell" retaining ownership but not having to divvy up to repair it.

I am sure Skidder readers are grateful to Richard Marshall for the information he has supplied even if we still don't know what the outcome will be. What a refreshing change from the lunacy of the Cooper/Britton regime! Hopefully the Councillor will keep us all informed as things develop. But the fact remains that at the present time the position is uncertain and us taxpayers are still on the hook for an expensive crock of sh*t!

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PROUD TO HAVE BEEN TROLLED BY DICKHEAD DARREN COOPER DECEASED!