580-tonne drill up for auction

dod

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3599191.stm

Eurotunnel drill up for auction
Eurotunnel has put a 580-tonne drill used to build the Channel Tunnel up for grabs on the online auction site eBay.

The Tunnel Boring Machine called B6 is the last remaining drill used in the building of the cross-Channel link.

The massive drill - with a reserve price of £1,000 - is currently housed in Folkestone, Kent.

But after two days on the auction site, no bids have been received. Delivery might be the stumbling block - it is not included in the price.

In its write-up for the drill, eBay suggests the giant machine might just make the perfect present for an eccentric engineering fan.

The potential buyer will not only need to splash out £1,000 but will need room to store the 580-tonne apparatus.

Eurotunnel are hoping to make as much money as possible from the charity auction but admit they are not entirely sure who will want it.

A company spokesman said: "We're hoping to get interest from mines or museums, but there's also a chance that eccentrics might want to buy it.

"We don't really know if it's going to sell for £1,000.01 or if it's going to go into the tens and thousands of pounds. Maybe no-one will want it.

"It's not operational so it's got more of an ornamental value really.

"Delivery isn't included so if an individual does want to buy it then that could be tricky. They are also going to need a pretty big garden."

The eBay auction closes on 12 April and after two days, there have been no bids.

Proceeds from the sale will be shared by McMillan Nurses, Demelza House Hospice and Pilgrims Hospice.

Big Ears

If we bought this and that aircraft carrier that just went out of our price range would could have patrolled the sea and the underground, maybe the world:rolleyes:

Dave

Here's The link. Oooh 11 bids.

Civilian_Target

Some people call it "overcompensating"

bizmark

Originally posted by Big Ears
If we bought this and that aircraft carrier that just went out of our price range would could have patrolled the sea and the underground, maybe the world:rolleyes:

Yep went out of our price range by about 50 million euro

Agent Smith

that aircraft carrier would have been cool for lanning,

also, if we are 12 miles out, we can sell smokes and booze duty free to passing ships!

sceptre

I wouldn't buy from that guy - he's got no feedback at all, feedback score of zero and looks like he registered just to sell his big drill on the Internet. And he won't take it back if it's faulty.:D

Oh no no, very suss.

At least it's covered under ebay's standard purchase protection. So the winner can get back £105 if he's conned.

Anyone buying or selling a drill now. Last few going.

dod

Eurotunnel drill sold for scrap
The buyer of a huge drill used to build the Channel Tunnel has said he plans to cut it up for scrap metal.

The 580-tonne boring machine was sold by Eurotunnel on internet auction site eBay, with the sale closing on Monday.

Eurotunnel described it as "a prized relic from the greatest construction achievement of the 20th century" which would be of interest to museums.

But buyer Tony Wilkinson, a scrap merchant from Kent, said he planned to cut the drill into 5 ft x 2 ft pieces.

Deal was off

The drill attracted bids of up to £10m when the auction began last week, but these were found to be hoaxes and eBay put a vetting system in place to eliminate anyone not pre-approved as a bidder.

Mr Wilkinson, who runs the firm Reclamet Recycling in Thanet, was outbid for the drill by a buyer using the name steddenm, with a bid of £39,999.

But Eurotunnel said they had received an e-mail from steddenm saying he had discovered it would cost £250,000 to move the drill from where it sits in Folkestone and the deal was off.

Mr Wilkinson, the second highest bidder at £39,899, was contacted and agreed to complete the purchase.

He said: "We won't be taking it home at all, we'll cut it on site.

"It will need to be scaffolded, we'll have cranes and it will have a team of about five or six blokes cutting it with oxygen and acetylene.

"It will leave this area in 5 ft x 2 ft pieces and it will end up in the steelworks, it will be recycled.

"Hopefully the scrap value is more than what we've paid for it and what it will cost to dismantle it."

The money from the sale is being split between three charities chosen by Eurotunnel staff - Macmillan Nurses, Demelza House Hospice and Pilgrim's Hospice.

dudara

Woa Mama, now there's a power tool.. B&Q fe*k off!!

Capt'n Midnight

Thought scrap steel was only €20 - he'll have his work cut out. Suppose there would be a bit o' copper 'n stuff as well.

The other drills will be in the side tunnels for future archeoligists.

Squall

Post to: Local pickup only (no postage)

Now that would be a definate strike

Señor Juárez

Originally posted by Big Ears
If we bought this and that aircraft carrier that just went out of our price range would could have patrolled the sea and the underground, maybe the world:rolleyes:

tbh, dig an underground tunnel out from ireland, 12km long to the aircraft carrier. our own boards.ie island.