THE first of a new range of E.R.F.
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four-wheeled tractive units specially designed for the Australian market has been dispatched to Booth (E.R.F.) Pty. Ltd., of Lidcombe, N.S.W., the newly formed Australian associate company of ELF. Ltd. The new model is designated the 64Cu, and is powered by a Cummins NHEIN diesel engine which gives 173 b.h.p. at 1,960 r.p.rn. and 520 lb. ft. torque at 1.100 rpm. The engine has an ailcooling heat exchanger, a large-capacity Donaclone air filter and a vertical exhaust system.
A David Brown 557A/480 10-speed gearbox is employed, and the rear axle is a Kirkstall double-reduction assembly with an overall reduction ratio of 5-2 to 1. The gearing gives a theoretical maximum speed of 57.7 m.p.h. at the design gross train weight of 26 tons, and the bottomgear grade ability is quoted as 1 in 5-8. The split-circuit air brakes are controlled by a Westinghouse Delta valve, and the front brakes are 16-in, by 5-in, units, the rears being 16-5-in by 7-in. The semitrailer brakes are automatically actuated when the tractiveunit handbrake is applied, and an exhaust brake is fitted also.
The vehicle has a wheelbase of 8ft. 11 in., and its overall length is 16 ft. Sin. The side members of the chassis frame are 0-375 in. thick, the maximum depth being 10-125 in., whilst the flanges are 3.5 in, wide: these members project beyond the front of the cab to carry a towing attachment. A hot-climate version of the E.R.F. LV plastics cab is employed: this has extra ventilators and air intakes, a fully insulated double roof (the forward extension of the top panel forming a sun visor), and a redesigned front panel with extra grille panels. A two-bunk sleeper cab is also available.
Booth (E.R.F.) Pty. Ltd. will assemble these and other E.R.F. vehicles at the Lidcombe plant from S.K.D. kits suppEed from Sand bach. The initial order placed for E.R.F. models is worth £150,000 (sterling). Six-wheeled versions of this tractive unit are to be built also.