Farewell to Valentas on the MML...

[Techniquest]

Hi all,

I can't see a thread about it, but apparently we've seen a sudden end to Valentas on the MML. 43089 put a conrod out whilst on 1D46 yesterday so Neville Hill are to put a VP185 into 089 as soon as one is available.

Gotta say, I am gutted that I missed out on the opportunity to get 43089 in again with a Valenta, only ever had her once from Manchester Piccadilly to Bristol Parkway on 13th August 2005 with 43069.

RIP S407, farewell to a Valenta worthy of getting put in the Top 10 Valentas in my book. As good as S155, S444, S352 and S482 for sure.

 

[WillPS]

There are no more VP185s or even MTUs for that! I think the remaining Valenta's will remain Valentas. Not that I see how it particularly matters in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Kneedown]

Fingers crossed it gets re-Valenta'd. Only ever driven that one when it's been on the back.
All i've had so far are VeePee's.

 

[Royston Vasey]

There are no more VP185s or even MTUs for that! I think the remaining Valenta's will remain Valentas. Not that I see how it particularly matters in the grand scheme of things.

Sorry not sure what you mean... are you saying the engines are out of production or there are none to hand and they'd need to be ordered specially?

On a related note, anyone know what happened to the handful of VP185s that were in FGW's PCs (e.g. 43170) a few years ago before they were all converted to MTU? Were these installed into other PCs?

 

[MCR247]

On a related note, anyone know what happened to the handful of VP185s that were in FGW's PCs (e.g. 43170) a few years ago before they were all converted to MTU? Were these installed into other PCs?

These are the ones that EMT have now. and there arent anymore

 

[Techniquest]

WillPS, in the grand scheme of things it matters greatly to those of us who like Valentas. With the loss of S407, we're down to just the GC ones to enjoy, and who knows how much longer they'll keep going.

I had heard last month there were no VP185s until December, so what will happen now to 43089 is anyone's guess. It is clear that NL won't be able to just patch this problem up though, so it could well be that EMT will have to go without it until a VP185 can be sourced or another Valenta from somewhere (possibly out of 43013/014?). I don't hold out much hope for that though.

 

[37401]

there are some 12VP185`s but they are ether in a boat or in AUS
I did see a website with one for sale it was in Denmark IIRC and wasn`t going cheap, not only that it stilll had its boat bits on it so usless to the untrained eye.

dont the 125 Group have a spare Paxman RP200/Y3J I heard they had one?

failing that what happened to the Mirrlees Blackstone engines?

 

[90019]

there are some 12VP185RL`s but they are ether in a boat or in AUS
I did see a website with one for sale it was in Denmark IIRC and wasn`t going cheap, not only that it stilll had its boat bits on it so usless to the untrained eye.

Could the RP200/VP185 off a ship actually be used in a train?
Obviously if it's a different size it can't, but are there (m)any other differences?