AR Demolition deployed the old 1918 J&H McLaren engine to pull out sections of a decommissioned conveyor belt from the bottom of Croft Quarry.

Historical owners of the engine, named Avis, include the founder of the Courage Brewery and Sir William McAlpine, the son of Sir Robert who established his family’s construction firm in the 1860s.

Today Avis is owned by local enthusiast Robert Holt, from Hinckley in Leicestershire, whose son Richard is a fabricator at AR Demolition and operated the engine during its recent outing.

The unusual winching method was thought up by AR Demolition’s managing director, Richard Dolman. His company had been contracted to complete decommissioning demolition by site owners Aggregate Industries.

“We looked into winch hire,” he said, “but it was prohibitively expensive. And because of the nature of the site there was insufficient space to drag the pieces up the ramp from the bottom of the quarry using a long rope and demolition rig.

“I knew that Robert and Rich had Avis and it just occurred to me that she would be the perfect solution. It was a great opportunity for us to see what she could do and, as it turned out, she made it look easy.”

The removal of approximately 100 metres of conveyor belt housing – undertaken on 21^st March just a week before the coronavirus lockdown began – was done in sections over several hours, with the traction engine anchored at the top of the ramp.

The belt and housing was cut through with hot cutting torches to create sections – each weighing several tonnes – before being winched up the ramp and deconstructed using AR Demolition’s demolition rigs.

Richard Holt, who operated the engine, said: “Once she’s warmed up properly, she gets in this sweet spot where she’s a joy to work with.

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