AlIchin : Stand 5.
Page 9
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THE ALLCHIN STEAM .WAGON MODEL. 1-.13 Load. Engine. Drive. 5 ton 4:j ins, by 7 ins. Chain. by 8in. The price of a standard wagon complete with platform body is £550.
A fine example of present-day loco-type wagons is to be seen on Wm. Allchin's stand. This is a standard five-tonner fitted with Dunlop solid-rubber tires, and built to the order of the Eastern Motor Wagon Co., Ltd., which company, as is well known, operates very largely as cartage contractors among brewery companies in and around London. It is of the compound type, with high-pressure cylinder 4g ins, in diameter, and low-pressure cylinder of VI ins, in diameter, with an 8 in. pistonstroke, which is rather longer than that usually adopted. Two points well worthyof note in this wagon are the methods of attachment of the main channels to the smokebox end of the boiler, and the automatic safety coupling for the trailer drawbar. The side-channel attachment is so arranged as to leave the boiler free to expand or contract with the varying temperatures without imposing any strain upon the boiler plates. The usual twospeed gear is provided, and the transmission is through a single heavy type of roller chain. This chain, by the way, is partly enclosed with a. sheet-steel guard, villa guard is not provided with the idea of retaining lubrication so much as to prevent dust or mud from being thrown on to the chain from the adjacent road wheel. Passing now to the extreme hack of the wagon, the visitor should particularly note the means by which the Allehin Co. has sought to avoid repetition of accidents which in the past have unfortunately been too numerous with drivers or brakemen when coupling up trains, It is no easy matter when maneeuvring in an awkward position to drop the drawbar pin clean through the drawbar bracket and the eye of the bar. In the caseof the Allchin, all that the driver has to do is to set the trigger arrangeinent of the drawbar pin, and then hold up the drawbar to the correct level and allow the wagon to be backed on to it. Immediately the end of the drawbar enters the mouth of the bracket, it is guided to a central loose piece which, when Pressed like the trigger of a .gun, releases the " hammer," the drawbar pin taking the place of the hammer, and when released it drops into position and becomes automatically locked. We show two illustrations of this bracket pin, one set ready for the drawbar In cuter, the other when it is dropped and locked in position.