OZITIM Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 A friend of mine has just sent me these pictures of a nice AMTRAK deteriorating on an isolated island in remote Far North Queensland. It is my understanding that these AMTRAKs were purchased by the then 'FNQEB', the Far North Queensland Electricity Board. I think this was back in the 60s or early 70s. As remote North Queensland is covered in jungle, swamp and a maze of rivers, the FNQEB purchased these AMTRAKs to help lay the electrical lines and carry poles through this inhospitable terrain. One of these AMTRAKs ended up at the Beck Museum at Mareeba and is in excellent condition. I am guessing that this vehicle is most probably another one of those FNQEB vehicles. My question to the group, What would one pay for a restored AMTRAK? I am running a range of logistical plans through my head and need some measure of the cost analysis of such an undertaking. As a minimum, I'm thinking a barge and at least a reasonable size bulldozer to tug it out of its hole and drag it to the barge. Then it would need to be hauled off the barge to the mainland and then to find a crane and truck that could move it on a public road and the associated cost of heavy vehicle escort costs ect. What are your thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 (edited) Oh boy what a find !!!!!!!! never mind what it's worth .. I'm guessing totally here to say it but?... I'm pretty sure it would be worth at least the cost of rescuing her so ?..... I don't have clue what the prices of crane / barge / lowloader/ hire etc would be there nor what kind of distance are involved because from what I hear ?... Auzzie land is mighty big ! Best of luck with your plan though !!!...I just wish I was able to be there to help ! PS: I know some may laugh at these ideas but .. what about getting there with a good toolkit and some new batteries and fuel and having a go at firing her up ?? I've seen some things dragged out of meadows and woods here int he UK that have amazed folk by firing up with a bit of tickling ? ...and!....ok straight off my head here.but what about investigating the cost of a load carrying helicopter to lift her out and take her to the nearest road and a low loader maybe ??? i know I know!..the cost may be a heck of a lot but ...it may work out feasable when you measure in getting to her with a Dozer etc etc ??? Just ideas..shoot me down as you see fit ! Edited July 1, 2014 by RattlesnakeBob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 A friend of mine has just sent me these pictures of a nice AMTRAK deteriorating on an isolated island in remote Far North Queensland. It is my understanding that these AMTRAKs were purchased by the then 'FNQEB', the Far North Queensland Electricity Board. I think this was back in the 60s or early 70s. As remote North Queensland is covered in jungle, swamp and a maze of rivers, the FNQEB purchased these AMTRAKs to help lay the electrical lines and carry poles through this inhospitable terrain. One of these AMTRAKs ended up at the Beck Museum at Mareeba and is in excellent condition. I am guessing that this vehicle is most probably another one of those FNQEB vehicles. My question to the group, What would one pay for a restored AMTRAK? I am running a range of logistical plans through my head and need some measure of the cost analysis of such an undertaking. As a minimum, I'm thinking a barge and at least a reasonable size bulldozer to tug it out of its hole and drag it to the barge. Then it would need to be hauled off the barge to the mainland and then to find a crane and truck that could move it on a public road and the associated cost of heavy vehicle escort costs ect. What are your thoughts. Hi mate, Forget that one, have a look at this LVT Buffalo, up for sale, no real recovery problems like the one you pictured. It is in NSW. If interested send me a PM and I will put you in touch with the seller. regards, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fesm_ndt Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 how rare are these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nz2 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Two points arise from such a restoration; Do you want to use the item in the short term, or is it a long term ambission to rebuild an item. Richard's Water Buffalo appears to be operational and ready to run so it has the advantage it going in the short term. The one sitting on the island is a challange in recovery, then restoration. The aspect of transporting eitherby truck home is the same. This comes down to your own ability to finance a recovery. Those operating a barge service to the region would know capable contractors they are happy to work with in undertaking such a retreivial.I take it you have checked the current ownership of the item and site. Some times the recovery is the greatest challage and the most rewarding part of a restoration. Go For it! Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Richard's Water Buffalo appears to be operational and ready to run so it has the advantage it going in the short term. Doug, The one I pictured looks pretty good, but does need some work, a few rust holes in the bottom and the radial engine needs a bit of attention from what I understand. It is belonging to a deceased estate and the late owner did have it going, but an issue arose with the engine. Less rust than the one in Qld. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kw573 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Hi OZITIM, If this is the one I think it is, I have pictures of it from about 10 years ago. I have had recuring unrealistic thoughts of recovering it also. It is about 2000kms from Brisbane and in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The local aboriginal council own it, I'm told, and I believe they would almost give it away. They towed it out of town some years ago as it was a safety issue to the kids playing on it. It could be a much easier recovery than one might first expect. If you could find an empty flat top semi-trailer returning to the mainland, then it would be 1/2 the trouble. Surprisingly, they only weigh 12 odd tons, and aren't wide enough to need escort on Queensland roads. They just crane them (the expensive part, I imagine.) onto the trailer with the tracks hanging over the sides, turn on the flashing beacons, and away you go. My info comes from the Walker boys in Bundaberg, just up the road from me, who swim their LVT4 each "Bundaberg Swim-in" and have experience occasionally moving them around. Well worth having a chat with them if you are serious. Were are you? Have a nice day. Sam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101 Ron Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 If you do your home work unrestored they are worth only metal scrap value. At over 3 mtrs wide the transport costs go though the roof and then add your time and effort to restore a very large vehicle and you will see why. The NSW one is a good start for some one and can be picked up at a good price. It is mostly complete...............but the effort to restore one of these machines is just so great and then what do you do with it. The tracks are not robust enough to take a pounding all the time on hard dry land and it is a problem to transport. They are very much a purpose built vehicle. I hope some one saves the NSW buffalo and the one in North Qld would be great for spares and any missing parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy8men Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I would have thought an LVT was worth around £50k so if it's solid then maybe it's worth having a bash at saving it but only if you are an LVT fan, if not then let someone else bankrupt themselves getting it running again great post though and I always think it's important to document these things before they are lost forever good luck with whatever you decide rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101 Ron Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 More pics of the NSW Buffalo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101 Ron Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101 Ron Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101 Ron Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) Gotta say when all things are considered ?....the second one in this thread looks like the one to go for All depends on the money though ...lets say the fella with it is being 'silly' and asking £10.000 ? ....and the one deep in the woods can be had for £10.00 ? .... As I said though ..Auzz is a mighty big land so shifting her to wherever it is you live is gonna cost never mind the bit about getting her out of the swamp. PS: ? .....those tracks sure will play havoc with any dry surface you drive her on though you'd have to block them out somehow with some rubber or hard wood pads I reckon Edited July 2, 2014 by RattlesnakeBob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 PS: ? .....those tracks sure will play havoc with any dry surface you drive her on though you'd have to block them out somehow with some rubber or hard wood pads I reckon There might have been some other problem, but the one at Wartime in the Vale was certainly appeared to be having difficulty turning due to the tracks having too much grip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZITIM Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 Hi OZITIM,If this is the one I think it is, I have pictures of it from about 10 years ago. I have had recuring unrealistic thoughts of recovering it also. It is about 2000kms from Brisbane and in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The local aboriginal council own it, I'm told, and I believe they would almost give it away. They towed it out of town some years ago as it was a safety issue to the kids playing on it. It could be a much easier recovery than one might first expect. If you could find an empty flat top semi-trailer returning to the mainland, then it would be 1/2 the trouble. Surprisingly, they only weigh 12 odd tons, and aren't wide enough to need escort on Queensland roads. They just crane them (the expensive part, I imagine.) onto the trailer with the tracks hanging over the sides, turn on the flashing beacons, and away you go. My info comes from the Walker boys in Bundaberg, just up the road from me, who swim their LVT4 each "Bundaberg Swim-in" and have experience occasionally moving them around. Well worth having a chat with them if you are serious. Were are you? Have a nice day. Sam. Bingo Sam, thats exactly the one. Im in Cairns and its sitting on Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria as you stated. With regards to the Radial, I know where I can get my hands on an operational radial at Mareeba, so that wouldnt be a problem. Trucking it from Karumba, the closest port from Mornington to Cairns is pretty much a straight road with very little traffic, although its roughly 1000 klm distance. The thought of recovering it really appeals to me, and I have a very good mate in the ship building industry that would be able to assist with the rebuild. I just gotta think more about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZITIM Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 I would have thought an LVT was worth around £50k so if it's solid then maybe it's worth having a bash at saving it but only if you are an LVT fan, if not then let someone else bankrupt themselves getting it running again great post though and I always think it's important to document these things before they are lost forever good luck with whatever you decide rick So very true. I guess thats why I put it up here, as a challenge to anyone out there that desperately wanted to recover and restore such a machine. But the temptation to put a project together to recover it is simmering away in my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZITIM Posted July 2, 2014 Author Share Posted July 2, 2014 These photos are great! It really assists to get a bit of an idea of the work that would be required with the Mornington Amtrak. Interestingly though, the radial on the Mornington one, is surprisingly complete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlymb Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 If it turns out it is physically possible to recover it and you have secured ownership, it might be worthwhile to get the (local) press involved. That way you may be able to make a good deal with any of the help you'll need to hire, because those companies will get some good exposure & basically free advertising. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OZITIM Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Yes, I did that with some Ferrets I recovered from a paddock several years ago. The military agreed to transport them as a PR exercise. Easy when you have a bunch of MACK trucks and soldiers to drive them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
101 Ron Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 If some one really really wants to have ago on one of these machines the NSW one is the way to go as it must be moved from its current location and the price would be very, very reasonable as the owner knows transport and restoration costs of these things are though the roof. Both machines the Mornington and NSW ones together would make a complete machine with spares. The tracks and track wheels are in very good condition on the NSW machine. The tracks are not very solid things like a full on tank and I bet the tracks buried under the ground on the Mornington machine are stuffed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
secondshooter Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 You don't have to recover it all the way in one step , first track down the owners , see if you can settle on a price ? buy it! then get it from its current location to a secure place. you now have time to get the other parts of the journey sorted out. brilliant idea of getting the media/military involved ,but only after you have a bill of sale in your pocket , all sorts of people crawl out of the woodwork wanting to spoil your fun. trucking firms , barge operators all want free advertising , some may be enthusiasts and want to be involved just because its interesting , if you have time you can wait for a back load where the vehicle will be travelling empty back from a paying job, you may be able to negotiate a good price . media coverage is always good , if your name and contact number are displayed other vehicles and parts , interesting stuff may be offered to you (all sorts of things are tucked away and forgotten about) If you are looking for volunteers I am almost tempted to come over the ditch and give you a hand just for the fun of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDT16 Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 Hate to say it.... but that one is too far gone to do any thing with. You would be better off with a good set of blue prints. As far as the steering comment, They don't steer well in grass. The ground holds together too well. The tracks are made for sand, mud and water. So the softer the better. They will slide nicely on pavement though. They only weigh 14 tons. "Big Bum Betty" will be at W&P show. Check her out. Wish I could have made it. Here is a short video of her 2nd time swimming in Florida before she was shipped to the UK. Enjoy SD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Pearson Posted July 15, 2014 Share Posted July 15, 2014 (edited) Very nice, I would love one. :cool2: What is the price roughly for the better one ready for collection ? Mark.. Edited July 15, 2014 by Mark Pearson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.