NEW TYPE OF RAIL-CAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 51, 2 March 1937, Page 12

NEW TYPE OF RAIL-CAR

LOAD-HAULING DESICN

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, February 3.

An experiment that may have an important bearing on the future use of Diesel rail-cars is to be tried by the Great Western Railway. Based on the experience gained during the last three years from the running of the seventeen streamlined single-unit railcars in use in various parts of the system, a new type of rail-car has been constructed capable of taking a "tail" load, of either passenger or goods vehicles, up to sixty tons in weight and of performing light shunting. This car, 65ft Bin long and Bft llin wide, embodies important new features. . The uriderframe has been fitted with buffing and draw-gear of the same pattern as on ordinary passenger train vehicles. The controls have been duplicated so that the car can be driven from either end. Tail traffic can thus be attached to whichever end is desired. The controls are mounted on a panel, and, except for the throttle, are electro-pneumatically operated and so arranged that by fitting a similarly equir/:d panel in the end of a trailer car, the unit can be .driven from the trailer. Provision is made for steam heating trailer traffic and for operating the vacuum brake. The car seats 49 passengers in two saloons opening out of a centre vestibule. At one end is a driver's compartment and at the other a combined luggage and driver's compartment. Illumination is by a diffused system of electric lighting and a "no draught" type of ventilation has been installed.