• TECHNICAL: FODEN C TYPE
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The history of the Foden C Type can be traced directly back to the early days of steam road haulage. Indeed, in 1923 Commercial Motor was able to report on a Foden almost identical to John Crawley's example which was more than 20 years old and had covered more than 280,0001cm. The principal difference between that machine and the mid-twenties version was the centre-pivot, rather than Ackermann, steering.
The C Type has a twin-cylinder compound engine mounted on top of the boiler. With this type of engine steam is exhausted from the high-pressure cylinder into the low-pressure one, to get more complete expansion — and more efficient use — of the steam.
This unit has an RAC rating of a nominal 4hp, and Foden claimed an actual power output of 23hp at 450rpm. Steam is raised in a locomotive-type boiler, and the firebox has a lead plug that is designed to melt in case of overheating, allowing steam into the firebox to extinguish the fire and so prevent a boiler explosion.
Raising enough steam to get underway in the morning requires some 100kg of coal, and our 25Icm jaunt used up another 50kg of coal. The coal bunker can accommodate some 300kg of coal, and the water tanks hold nearly 700 litres.