A Linde H80D carrying the Deltic engine.

A Linde heavy duty forklift was essential in the rebuilding of an engine for a historic diesel locomotive.

Colin Davison, area sales manager at Linde Castle and part of a volunteer group that maintains the Deltic Diesel locomotive "Royal Scots Grey", persuaded his managing director, Richard Heward, to sell an ex-rental Linde H80D to Martin Walker, the owner of the Deltic 55022 engine.

"It is an awkward object to lift," Davison says of the Deltic 55022.

"We did consider hiring a mobile crane, but we all felt a forklift would be a better option," he adds.

The engine was designed and built in Liverpool for naval marine use, fitted to mine sweepers and fast motor torpedo boats. It was selected for rail use in the 1950s as it produced very high power for its weight of 5.5 tonnes.

"The Linde H80D, with its hydrostatic transmission and smooth control, ensured the engine move went very well," Walker says.

He explains that the engine is "very top-heavy and could easily tip over".

"The forklift gave us more flexibility and is cheaper than hiring a mobile crane," he adds.

The triangular, 18-cylinder, two-stroke, opposed piston engine has been transported to a specialist marine engine repairer where it has been stripped to component form.

"We now know what caused the engine failure and are busy sourcing spare parts. It's not going to be a cheap fix though. This will cost in excess of GBP100,000 (USD165,439)," Davison says.

For more on the famous locomotive, visit www.royalscotsgrey.com.