The Latest Motor Horsebox
Page 44
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for railway service
TOTOR horseboxes are finding inJY,Lcreasing popularity amongst railway companies and one of the latest types has recently been commissioned for service by the London and North Eastern Railway Co. The new vehicle, of which we publish an illustration on this page, is fully representative of modern design and construction in conveyances built for the transit of valuable horses.
The basis of the vehicle is a MorrisCommercial Viceroy chassis supplied by Morris Garages, Ltd., Oxford, and the body was built by Strachans (Acton), Ltd., Wales Farm Road, North Acton, London, W.3. It incorporates Messrs. Hammonds (Newmarket) patents, with certain modifications to suit the specification of Mr. H, N. Gresley, chief mechanical engineer of the railway company.
It is a two-horse box and is intended for the conveyance of racehorses. The animals reach the stalls by way of a self-balanced ramp, equipped with Monarch spring controls, and two hinged doors at the front on the off side. The latter form side wings to the ramp when it is in the lowered position.
The two stalls are each 6 ft. 7 ins. long, 2 ft. 8t ins, wide and 7 ft. 21: high. They are divided by a centre bale 4 ft. 6 ins. high, which is hinged on the front bulkhead and secured try a single-movement locking device ; hinged and fixed head bales are also provided.
826 In order that the vehicle can be converted into a loose box, the centre bale is made so that it can be readily removed. The sides, bales, chest boards and the roof immediately above the horses' heads are well padded and protected by washable canvas, the lower portions being fitted with Sorbo rubber of special thickness. Great care has been taken to pad all parts with which the horses are liable to come into contact. The floor is covered with Connolly's semi-pneumatic rubber and fibre matting, suitable drainage holes being provided.
Access to the grooms' compartment is by means of a door at the rear. This section is provided with comfortable scats for four attendants, as well as mangers, harness racks and suitable lockers. The body framework is of ash and it has panels of steel-faced plywood. Ventilation is provided by means of four Aslianco extractors mounted in the roof, and hit-and-miss-type ventilators along the sides, these being controlled from the grooms' compartment. Screened louvres are also provided in the front bulkhead.
The grooms' compartment has Beclawatt sliding windows, whilst an electric bell is provided for communication with the driver.
The exterior panels pre finished in brown, the ash framing being in the natural wood and varnished. The interior is enamelled throughout in white and all fittings are of chromium plate. The particular box which we illustrate has recently been placed in service in Melton, in Yorkshire.