40 ”739” “Sludge” Simplex Mechanical Handling 40SD516 of 1979

This is the most modern ”Motor Rail” in the fleet and was constructed after the company had renamed itself as Simplex Mechanical Handling to reflect its diversification into forklift truck attachments and similar equipment. It was delivered on 12/3/1979 to Severn Trent Water. It worked for all its life at the vast sewage works at Minworth, near Birmingham. A number of other MRT locos also came from these works – see fleet numbers 45 & 81. The system at Minworth was one of the last major water works railways, and it ceased operating in January 1989. However, the loco remained in storage in the workshops for some years. The MRT’s loco joined the collection on 31/8/2002.