(apologies if someone else has gotten to this in the past!) So I've been to Aberdeen a couple times, and have taken a TON of photos, most with a non-digital camera, so they haven't been scanned yet. But the last time I went, I did have my digital camera. And having heard in the past that Aberdeen had one of the two remaining Elephants (Ferdinand w/ mg), I made sure to quiz the staff about where it was. Although technically trespassing on the active base part of the Proving grounds, the museum people said it likely would not cause any problems for me to take some pictures of the Elephant they do have... rather, the ferdinand they sort of have... Apparently, the proving grounds museum was moving the Elephant in hopes of refurbishing the beast- and in the process of attempting to load it onto a train car, it broke the crane being used. And there wasn't a stronger crane available, or some such. Hence, at least as of last time I went- maybe slightly more than a year ago- this is one of the two remaining specimens of this incredibly interesting vehicle.
That's a very sad situation indeed, Crazy...this is a historically important relic and I'd have thought it warranted far better treatment.
I went to Aberdeen last summer and I didn't see it. Thats a shame too I would have been very interested in seeing one.
Kilroy- it's not actually located in the "museum" area. If one is facing the Leopold Railway gun, with one's back to the museum building- the Elephant is about 150 yards or so down the road to one's RIGHT. It's not on the museum grounds- it's on part of the base that is considered actually part of the "base". Technically, it's illegal to go down there, as you're on military property- but the woman at the desk in the museum told me that no one would mind, as people go and check it out now and then. And it's pretty close to the museum part, not near any of the other military buildings. The real shame... from what the woman at the desk (who seemed to have a decent idea what she was talking about) said- I didn't really get the idea that there was any real push to save the Elephant. She said something about bringing in another crane to move the vehicle... But the amount of weeds and crap growing up through the Elephant dosne't give me much hope that we'll ever see this specimen refurbished. Looks like the last surviving Elephant will be the specimen in Kubinka.
1 of only 2 in the World.... Pity they can't ship it over to Bovington ; I'm sure they'd be delighted to restore it there
Yep, that is a bit frustrating. I've been to Aberdeen, Bovington, and have seen extensive photo collections from Kubinka. Bovington- superb museum, perfect environment, with everything kept as a museum should. The older display tanks are indoors in a controlled environment, and there's even the workshop for the newer tanks and whatnot. Kubinka- looks somewhat less sophisticated than Bovington, but still- vehicles kept indoors in a relatively controlled environment that would easily qualify as a museum Aberdeen- vehicles left sitting out in a field for years, exposed to harsh northeastern weather with little to no signs of upkeep. For god's sake, each of the tiems I've been there I've even seen evidence that people go there to "party"- empty beer bottles laying around here and there. And looking through the hatches at the interior of some of the vehicles- wow, there's more mold and "growths" inside some of those vehicles than a college refridgerator! Not to mention wasp nests in at least 2 of them. damn shame.
You would think that if they are going to leave it outside like that they would at least cover it up. Or if they knew it would sit there like that for that long build something around it
I know the IWM London already has one but you would think some museum would buy that up. Or a reenactor group too, those crazies got enough money to if they wanted.
What a shame. Too bad we have to leave the care of such things to the apathetic. I wonder if writing some letters would help?
Does anyone know what's going on with this vehicle now? I know that Aberdeen is 'leasing' vehicles to other museums with facilities/time/money to restore them and hoped this would be one of those, I can find nothing on the web though. If anyone's feeling particularily flush, or should that be Extremely, Millionaire-ishly flush?, you can 'adopt' an Aberdeen artifact: http://ordmusfound.org/AdoptanArtifact.htm Imagine that. An Elefant with your name on it! Cheers, Adam.
