LETTER OF THE WEEK
Page 13
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Remembering our history
YOUR ARTICLES in CM 1 March about Peter Clemmet [whom I know] and super heavy loads were very interesting and nostalgic.
I am the author of the book Sunters: High, Wide & Mighty – the Northallerton-based heavy mover of yesteryear. The passages about the Rotinoff really took my interest, as the Sunter Rotinoff made heavy haulage history.
In 1956 Head Wrightson of Thornaby was given a contract to design, build and fabricate 12 heat exchange units for a nuclear power station in Bradwell, Essex, which were 92ft long, 20ft in diameter and weighed in at 238 tons. The following year Sunter Brothers was given the contract to deliver those units. Tom Sunter ordered a Rotinoff Atlantic at a cost of £14,000 and two Crane’s bogies. In the spring of 1958 everything was ready.
The irst ‘pull’ was pure publicity with the press and the BBC cameras present. Engineer George Rotinoff had brought along two of his Atlantic Rotinoff variants to accompany that of Sunters, which was connected irst to the trailer with the other two heading up.
When all was set, and drivers briefed, Tom Sunter stood with a handkerchief held high. With one downward movement of his arm, all the ‘Rots’ roared into life and slowly moved up the concrete hill with nary a minor hitch. On reaching level ground, the leading tractors were unhitched and Sunters Rotinoff took the unit into the power station.
The Sunter Rotinoff took 10 more of the heat exchange units over the coming months, but due to a collapsed gearbox, failed to deliver the inal one.
Great magazine and best wishes.
Tony Eaton Northallerton