Co-ordinated Road and Rail Transport.
Page 23
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A N interesting combined system of rail and road transport has recently been inaugurated n connection with the Bolls Margarine Works at Moabit, near Berlin' Germany. As it was not possible to carry a railway siding direct to the works, it was found necessary to provide a special means in order to deal with the large quantities of •oil used at the works. In order to avoid the need for any intermediate handling of the material, as would have been necessary had the usual type of railway tank wagon been employed, it was decided to construct a number of special rail trucks, each designed to carry four separate tanks, the total weight of each tank. when loaded being
tons, or a total rail truck load of 15 tons.
The platforms of the railway wagons are each provided with four sets of rails, on to each of which an oil tank mounted, on wheels is run laterally, means being provided for securely locking it in position.
In order to ensure rapid conveyonce of the tanks Irons the railway goods yard to the margarine factory, a fleet of petrol tractors of the type illustrated on this page, which are built by the Krupp Co.' of Essen, is employed. The forward end of the trailer is supported by screw gear on the rear of the tractor, so that when loading operations have to be undertaken it can be loWered until a pair of auxiliary wheels come into contact with the ground. The platform of the trailer is provided with a set of rails of the gauge of the tank wheels, and, as will be seen from our
illustration, when loading or unloading has to be undertaken the trailer is backed up against the railway truck so that the respective tracks come into line. The platform of the trailer slopes a little when its front wheels are lowered, so that little effort is required to push the tanks on to it. The trailer is adapted to carry two tanks, and screw gear and wheel wedges are provided so that they are held securely in position.
A full train-load consists of 40 tanks, so that the fleet of tractors and trailers is kept in constant employment in delivering essential commodities to the factory. On the return journey from the works to the railway goods siding empty tanks are transported.