Standard gauge motor rail locos

摘要

MOST PEOPLE will recognise the name of Motor Rail and will thinkof the small narrow locos that the company built, but the firm also built standard gauge examples. The company came to prominence during World War One when it manufactured hundreds of small 20hp and 40hp locos for use in the trenches. After the war it was realised that many firms needed a small standard gauge loco for use in sidings. It was much easier and quickerto use a petrol-powered rather than steam-powered loco, especially when it was only going to be used for a couple of hours a day. Rather than design a complete new type, Motor Rail took the basic design of the 40hp versions used during the war and modified it for the standard gauge - many of the parts of the narrow gauge variant were incorporated.