Relocation of Heritage Steam Locomotive - 'Invicta'
Novatec relocation of one of the oldest passenger steam locomotives in the world...
We love the challenge of moving large and heavy industrial machinery but occasionally something a little out of the ordinary comes along, like the following project involving the relocation of ‘Invicta’, one of the world’s oldest passenger steam locomotives.
First, a brief history…
Invicta was built by Robert Stephenson and Company in 1829, being constructed immediately after the famous ‘Rocket’, and was the first steam-powered passenger locomotive service, hauling its first load on the Canterbury and Whitstable railway on 30th May 1830.
Invicta remained in active service until 1839, before eventually ending up on static display in Canterbury under the ownership of the National Transport Trust. During November 2008, it was announced that a £41,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant had been made to Canterbury City Council to develop a new museum exhibit at Whitstable to house Invicta and by June 2019, Novatec had successfully carried out the delicate relocation.
Preparations
Being such an historically significant piece, there were a number of preparatory meetings with various stakeholders well in advance of the relocation. These included the Kent County Council, the Museum and the Transport Trust.
Given Invicta’s age and condition, there was genuine concern over the relocation, so we designed, fabricated and installed a suitable steel skid to allow us to jack, skate and lift the locomotive with the absolute minimum of direct contact. The skid was designed to be assembled in sections around the wheels of the steam engine.
Our usual detailed method statement, risk assessments and lift plans were all submitted for approval by all stakeholders well in advance of the move. Novatec also made the necessary arrangements for the required road closures and traffic management in Canterbury City centre and the main road through Whitstable.
Prior to move day, we attended site in Canterbury to assemble the bespoke lifting frame and remove the Heritage rails supporting Invicta at the time.
The Move
There were a number of challenges in moving the five-tonne Invicta from the Marlowe Kit in Canterbury – restrictive access, delicate ground coverings, public areas, etc. These were all handled with our usual high level of professionalism to ensure Invicta was extracted and loaded to transport with the minimum of fuss.
During the installation of Invicta at Whitstable, there was the added pressure of a large audience of local residents, as well as the regional news reporters, to manage safely.
We then needed to crane Invicta from the main road, over the roof of the museum building and land safely in the rear courtyard...
prior to skating her into the building and lowering into her display pit...
The skills and experience of the team at Novatec Engineering was key to ensuring the entire relocation was handled seamlessly from start to finish. Whilst it’s by no means the biggest or most complicated relocation project, it is one we are very proud to have been a part of.
Don’t risk your machinery or the safety of your personnel - Trust Novatec’s experience and expertise to get the job done properly
Over the years, our team has handled everything from a single machine to complete factory relocations for blue chip clients and in all industries from food production to waste recycling (and everything in between). Regardless of the size of the project, our team follows the same strict procedures to ensure your machinery is handled safely and efficiently and is back in operation to suit your requirements.
If you need someone you can trust to look after your machinery needs - in every aspect, from planning and management to decommissioning, movement, re-installation and commissioning - get in touch with our friendly team and we’ll be only too happy to advise on the next steps for your project.
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