Bruff Recovery lorries
2nd December 2009
After recent discussions, an article based on our findings!
A quick review of the original fleet of 30 vehicles gives us the following so far - any updates welcome:
Active
B155VRV - extant at Eastleigh - DBS
C922YOR - extant at Reading - FGW
C959YOR - extant at Fort Horsted - Avondale (now flat bed lorry.)
C962YOR - extant at Longsight - WCTC
C963YOR & C964YOR - extant at Hornsey - FCC (C964 YOR now flat bed lorry.)
C965YOR - extant at Wembley CARMD - WCTC
Preserved
B445WPO - extant at Plym Valley Railway
C958YOR - extant at Wensleydale (now flat bed lorry with Hiab crane.)
C951YOR, C960YOR, C961YOR - parts of all of these machines have apparently made it into the lorry at Shackerstone. The remains assumed scrapped at Toton at the same time as the others? C960YOR was deleted from the website a few years' back but is now re-added so any sightings welcome. Ex Tyseley. I believe this one was involved in some sort of fatal incident (noted at Derby Raynesway as damaged in 2002) and should have been scrapped soon after but it seems some parts were still re-used - not sure which.
C955YOR, C966YOR, C969YOR - all at Rush Green Motors, Stevenage - March 2009
Scrapped
B534WTP, B849XOR, C923YOR, C929YOR, C956YOR, C957YOR - Toton (all assumed scrapped on site late 2002? Plus remains of C951YOR, C960YOR, C961YOR? - see above.)
C921YOR, C953YOR, C954YOR - last seen Immingham in July 2004 - assumed scrapped on site or disposed from here soon after this? (C953 & C954 had lost their rail wheels by this time.)
C948YOR, C952YOR, C997XPX - last at Motherwell - scrapped 2003?
C967YOR - scrapped Scottish Power, Yoker 2002
C968YOR - this is another lorry that was unfortunately deleted so any sightings welcome again - originally at Ashford. This was the one that was advertised on eBay at a garage in Tonbridge in 2005 but its fate after this is unknown.
C970YOR - last at Brighton around 2003
Nick did some research on these and found the following
"Well according to the DVLA's website, these vehicles were last taxed as follows:
1996 - C952 YOR
1997 - B534 WTP, B849 XOR, C923 YOR, C929 YOR, C957 YOR and C961 YOR
1998 - C948 YOR, C956 YOR and C958 YOR
1999 - C921 YOR, C997 XOX
2000 - C953 YOR
2001 - C960 YOR
2004 - C954 YOR
2006 - C970 YOR
From this, it is highly unlikely I saw C929 YOR on the M1 in 2001! I think the most likely candidates were probably C954 YOR or C960 YOR (de-licensed shortly afterwards).
I am very surprised about C970 YOR as I am virtually certain it disappeared way before 2006. I just wonder if it went elsewhere in 2004 for a couple of years?"
Robin tells us
"Eastfield who operated C997 XPX had the original road rail gear removed and was refitted with "fairmont Hyrail" road/rail gear to try and cure the sagging front axle problem. Photos anyone?"
Peter Hall adds
"C997XPX, C948YOR & 952YOR were sold from Motherwell to Colin Dunsmore, Larkhall for scrap 04/03.
C921/953/954YOR were sold from Immingham for scrap 6/06.
C968YOR is almost certainly the Tonbridge one as a garage in Tonbridge was mentioned as a possible destiny after it departed Ashford in 2001.
C970YOR was sold to Castle Commercials, Barking 04/04 and presumably scrapped."
Any more info or news welcome!
Categories
Comments
All comments are the opinions of their respective authors, and do not reflect the opinions of ontrackplant.com. If you find an offensive comment and want it removed then please contact us with details.
Simon Grego
Posted: 25 July 2010, 23:04
Having today been at Shackerstone (July 2010), I was talking to the chap who is restroing our old Tyseley breakdown crane (ADRC 96708), but he allowed me to look at his BRUFF and run it up, I havent driven a BRUFF since 1989, on my last rerailing with Tyseleys one at Bescot, but drove the Reading flat bed one in 1992.
This simple gesture of running the Shackerstone one up, brought back so many memories of our one.....and all that overtime!
christopher john yardy
Posted: 6 January 2017, 17:25
can any one give any infimation on the company and it products thanks.
Robin Morel
Posted: 8 January 2017, 15:04
30 Bedford Road/Rail recovery vehicles
01 Bedford Road/Rail flatbed/demountable/access platform
01 Bedford Road/Rail to BlackPool Transport Tramway
01 Bedford Road/Rail Recovery to NI Railways gauge
01 Road/Rail Overhead/Tunnel inspection unit
04 Mercedes Benz RoAd/Rail personnel carriers
08 Road/Rail Hedgetrimmer tractors
curious road/rail recovery vehicle prototype-
4 axle skid steer
and those monster looking profiler and grader machines
Robin Morel
Posted: 8 January 2017, 15:27
Unsure if badged as BRUFF or Wickham but does anyone know if this is still extant ??
https://flic.kr/p/sQpmdq
Vince Website editor
Posted: 8 January 2017, 16:16
Christopher - the company was called BRUFF. Go to the comments area of this link for more info on the company.
Rob - No idea if it still exists. It was badged as both at various points - Bruff Rail & Wickham Rail.
The same chap on Flickr has two fascinating albums (both going a bit beyond this topic though): Wickham Rail & Wickham of Ware
Just to update your list, think there were 6 Mercedes Personnel Carriers.
They also made some Rail Threaders but a bit beyond most peoples' interest.
Ben Williams Editor
Posted: 8 January 2017, 20:19
So as per comment under C956YOR it appears this also made it to Rush Green Motors near Stevenage and was there in 2014. Any more updates from here welcome!
Jonathan Flood
Posted: 11 January 2017, 16:52
There was a Wickham Rail badged Rail Threader at the K&ESR. Does anyone know if it is still there?
I am aiming to visit Rush Green Motors soon, as it is local to me and I will see what I can ascertain from them.