Cliffhanger climax to The Italian Job solved after 40-year wait

From The Telegraph - Published: 12:01AM GMT 23 Jan 2009

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/4315767/Cliffhanger-climax-to-The-Italian-Job-solved-after-40-year-wait.html

...the Royal Society of Chemistry asked people to work out a method to extract the gold within 30 minutes without using a helicopter, and prove it with maths.

Now, an IT manager from Godalming in Surrey has worked out how to extricate the gold without toppling the 1964 Bedford VAL14 coach and the gang over the edge.

John Godwin, 39, beat around 2,000 people who replied to the call by the RSC to draft a solution to safely remove the 3.2 tons of gold.

Mr Godwin's solution was relatively simple.

Firstly, four windows should be smashed: two large central windows just 'air-side' of the pivot should be knocked outwards; then two smaller windows above the twin front axles, inwards.

Then a man should be lowered through the smaller windows to let down the four inflated front tyres, which Mr Goodwin said were acting as "springs" and exaggerating the rocking motion.

Thirdly - and most importantly - the near-full fuel tank should be emptied.

This would enable one of the 10-strong gang to get off and gather rocks to further weigh the bus down.

Removing an estimated 36 gallons of remaining fuel, weighing about 300lb (139kg), "is the key to surviving this predicament" he wrote.

Mr Godwin even tracked down one of the last existing VAL14s buses to a depot near Cambridge to check his details, confirming that the fuel tank was located towards the overhanging rear.

Croker could have emptied the tank by removing an access plank on the bus floor and reaching down to take out the drainage plug, he suggested.