From the Railway Herald:
http://www.rharchive.info/Issue292.pdfThe co-owner of the Class 31, Les Emery has three other locomotives based at the PBR. including Class 37s No.37219 which recently arrived from a spell with the Mid-Norfolk Railway and No. 3742I. which is currently being overhauled and will run in Regional Railways livery together with Class 73 No. 73128. Mr. Emery said that while being 'devastated‘ by the incident the really important issue that no injuries resulted. He added the initial inspection revealed damage to frame of the Class 31 beneath the cab, a possible cracked bogie and other damage that has resulted in the cab now having a pronounced ‘droop‘. However, despite the serious damage to No. D5627. it will not be scrapped, and will be repaired. "it is only metal”, he told RH, "and so if it was built from metal it can be rebuilt!”Sorry to labour the point, D605Eagle, but I'm sure you can understand my wish to get the quote correct for you.
I think you can take it from the above words of the owner of the locomotive that the most important aspect of this incident was that it was
no injuries resulted, which is what I said.
Keep it in context.
D5627 is just a locomotive. It'll be insured, it can be repaired and the bent frame will be a visible reminder to all those who work on the P&BR (and other preserved lines), to never be complacent about health and safety. (which as i stated previously, is not something that i have ever said the P&BR have been). RAIB are investigating and will make the appropriate comments and recommendations as they see fit. As per previous, the rail over road bridge (B4246 Varteg Road), down the line from where this incident occurred has not long been reinstated, therefore there could have been much much more serious consequences to this. It could be easily argued that the damage to D5627 prevented a much more serious accident.