Cravens, Sheffield

[Mad Doug Biker]

Hello, long shot here maybe, but does anyone local to Sheffield know when Cravens was taken over by Metro Camel in 1966? What date was it?
Also, what actually happened?

Do you have relatives who worked there at the time, etc?

Thanks

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

No? I'm surprised as I thought there were Sheffield peeps here.

 

[Sharky]

Intrigued by your question.

Perhaps all the workers were skiving, to watch the World Cup?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Intrigued by your question.

Perhaps all the workers were skiving, to watch the World Cup?

Sorry, it's what the chronology of when the railway aspect of their operation was taken over by Metro Camell, as I am part of a group that are restoring a train that was supposedly built in 1966 by Cravens, but is actually listed as May 1967.

I live nowhere near Sheffield and finding anything useful online is pretty difficult, so I am wondering if anyone from the area knows of any good online resource?

Thanks.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

And what newspaper would be the best Archivewise??

Thanks.

 

[oxoman]

If its for what I think you might be better on a local to Sheffield Facebook group

 

[classic33]

And what newspaper would be the best Archivewise??

Thanks.

Try the British Newspaper Archive at your local library. They, the BNA, may have titles no longer in print.

 

[classic33]

Would it be a class 311 you're working on?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Would it be a class 311 you're working on?

Yes.

It's to find out what actually happened at Cravens in the last days, i.e. what date did it all cease? Was there any obligation to continue into 1967? What was the understanding with Metro Camell, etc etc.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

If its for what I think you might be better on a local to Sheffield Facebook group

Trying to, but just getting started.

Thanks.

 

[classic33]

Trying to, but just getting started.

Thanks.

And doing it the Yorkshire way, in thirds.

I've looked, and the best I've found so far is they simply carried on with what they were building in '66, not changing the manufacturing plates to '67.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

And doing it the Yorkshire way, in thirds.

I've looked, and the best I've found so far is they simply carried on with what they were building in '66, not changing the manufacturing plates to '67.

I (and others) reckon they cast all the builder's plates at the beginning and just used them (apparently that is the sort of thing they did at the time).

These were the last 19 things ever built. There are stories of unfinished units being towed to Metro Camell to be completed, but info is very scant, hence why I am trying to find out more about the chronology of it all

Cravens continued after that, just not making railway things.

 

[classic33]

I (and others) reckon they cast all the builder's plates at the beginning and just used them (apparently that is the sort of thing they did at the time).

These were the last 19 things ever built. There are stories of unfinished units being towed to Metro Camell to be completed, but info is very scant, hence why I am trying to find out more about the chronology of it all

Cravens continued after that, just not making railway things.

Moved on to injection moulding for one.

You aware they used asbestos, sprayed on, as sound proofing on the floors?

 

[classic33]

Have you thought about getting in touch with the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland, to see if they have any information on the company.

http://www.steamtrainsireland.com/

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

You aware they used asbestos, sprayed on, as sound proofing on the floors?

We know they did that with some London Underground units (the Underground people wont even get back to me).
With the '311, yes, there is suspected Arsebestos, but the stuff in the floor doesn't appear to be it.

Problem with Cravens is that they apparently had so many problems with Asbestos that anyone who knew anything is probably long dead by now! 😵‍💫