Crash 66 has left the Museum
Back in August of 2018, the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum listed the Thornycroft Foam Tender as “For Sale”. The intention was to look to dispose of the Tender to another Museum and hopefully a Charitable Organisation like ourselves.
Thornycroft Foam Tender For Sale
A number of offers were forthcoming, particularly on Social Media from those wishing to run “Foam Parties” (not suitable, but funny and interesting), from individuals wishing to purchase the Tender, from people setting up Museums and from established Museums. After much deliberation and Committee discussion, it was decided to offer the vehicle to the National Emergency Services Museum based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
National Emergency Services Museum
The first phase of the transfer was to get the vehicle mobile again so it could be loaded on a transporter to take it to Sheffield. The Tender had not moved for 10 years and the first attempt to move it proved futile as the vehicle would not roll and despite being pulled by a fairly large unit from the low-loader, it simply stayed put between the hangars.
The second phase was therefore for Sheffield to send some of their mechanics to free off the wheels and see if it could be towed out of its location. When the chaps from Sheffield had pumped up the compressed air tanks to free off the back wheels (surprise, the system was still intact and still held the pressure), and removed the drive shafts from the front wheels, they thought that the vehicle was ready to move. Andrew, a friend of the Museum and a local farmer, then came along with his substantial tractor and the Foam Tender was moved for the first time since it had been placed between the hangars.
Phase II images
The last phase of the move was yesterday (Thursday 17th Jan 2019) when a different low loader came along and Adam from Adam Kluj Transport Services had no problems in winching the Foam Tender onto the back of the vehicle. No fuss no bother, Crash 66 went onto the trailer in no time and within the hour the Foam Tender was on its way to Sheffield and to the garage to be restored.
Final Photos
Author:: Pete Scott
Follow us on Social Media, email us or visit our Main Website.
Nice set of photos
Well done all concerned.
I put a feeler out to a Jersey Museum contact ,& hoped it would go back to the island, Have driven the old girl many times. At least its not being broken up.