Tractors Modified for Dual Purpose
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ANEW ballast-weighted towing bogie, enabling four-wheeled tractors normally employed with semitrailers to be used with four-wheeled trailers, has been designed by Mr. W. E, Yates, road motor engineer of British Railways (London Midland Region).
The towing unit, designed for use with the standard coupling gear of the mechanical-horse tractor, has three main parts, the bogie and frame, concrete ballast weight, and towing attachment. In the construction of the unit, a steel channel frame and a mechanical-horse semi-trailer forecarriage rocking beam are welded together, forming a rigid structure to sit squarely on the tractor chassis and to pick up the existing coupling gear. The rear of the bogie is kept down by pins under the fear of the tractor chassis.
. When not in use, the ballast-weighted bogie is parked on a steel stand, being secured by a steel loop dropped over the towing hook. When the locking gear is released, the tractor can draw away, ready for normal semi-trailer working.
The tractor servo brakes are modified to operate the braking systems on heavy four-wheeled trailers, in addition to their mechanical brakes, and the brake hose and lighting wires are relayed to the trailer from the rear of the bogie. Wide use is now being made by the London Midland Region of mechanical-horse tractors equipped with the new bogie for the movement of beer tanker trailers.
A further, modification designed to increase the versatility of the tractor, is the fitting to the front bumper of a laminated towing attachment, similar to that on the new bogie. With suitable stiffening of the bumper, this attachment makes it easier for tractors to manceuvre heavy trailers in confined spaces.