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50040 Leviathan Leaves Coventry for it's last Journey to the breakers
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| Following withdrawal from British Railways service 50040 Leviathan (also known as Centurian in later life) was moved to C.F. Booths for disposal, along with a number of other class 50's it was stored there for a number of years awaiting developements with the Engineering Charity Operation Collingwood. The heavily robbed loco was eventually sold by C.F. Booths to a private owner for preservation, at around the same time 50023 Howe was also sold. Howe moved to Barrow Hill where substantial work was undertaken on it prior to the preservation attempt floundering, and Leviathon was moved to the Coventry Railway Centre. Unfortunately little significant work was undertaken on 50040 at Coventry which resulted in further deterioration in it's condition. The loco did change hands a couple of times, but eventually in 2008 the loco, which the majority of people accepted was too far gone for anything other than a complete rebuild, was sold to Paul Spracklen owner of 50026 Indomitable for use as a source of spares. The main generator was retained by it's previous owner for use with 50008 Thunderer, and Paul was able to obtain some vital items for 50026, including the radiators. Although heavily robbed there were unbelievably quite a few items on the loco that were in better condition than on 50029 and 50030, and would benefit RRRG, fortunately Paul was kind enough to allow us the oppertunity to get what we could off it, in the limited time that was available. As such RRRG member Mark Burrows was on site at Coventry on the 27th June when 50040 was loaded for it's last ever trip. In the above picture new owner Paul Spraklen is seen overseeing the start of the loading process. (Mark Burrows) |
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| 50040 Leviathan is seen shortly after loading was started. (Mark Burrows) |
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| Leviathan is seen loaded onto the trailer, but is far from ready to leave, she now needs securing to the lorry, the ramp needed dismantling, and the tractor unit needed to run round and be reconnected to the trailer. (Mark Burrows) |
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| Leviathan is now secured to the trailer as the tractor unit waits for the ramp to be dismantled while some of Paul's team give her a last look over. (Mark Burrows) |
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| The lorry is now walked off site with one of Allely's men (just out of shot) operating the remote control for the rear stearing. (Mark Burrows) |
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| Having reached the raod proper the lorry then needed the suspension trimming, the load measuring and then had to wait for the obligatory escort vehicle. |
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| Shortly after settiing off 50040 is seen skirting the edge of Coventry Airport with the escort vehicle following. (Mark Burrows) |
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| Leviathan is seen proceeding along the A45 around the south side of Coventry, although Paul had told me which way the loco was suposed to be going, oppertunities for pictures were relatively limited, partly because shortly after this picture was taken the heavens opened, partly because the heavy traffic made it difficult to get in front safely, partly because I wanted to be insight of it at all the major junctions where it could have took an alternative route (just in case), and partly because in the heavy traffic I managed to get my view completely blocked by lorries on two occasions. (Mark Burrows) |
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| Unfortunately the loading process was somewhat delayed, and subsequent delays as a result of waiting an escort, traffic, etc, meant that it was late afternoon before the loco arrived at its destination, thereby preventing RRRG members doing any work on the loco on the 27th, she is seen above passing Fradley services on the M5, this was the last picture I managed of her before arriving at Simms Metals. (Mark Burrows) |
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