• Tilt Vans for Railway Service
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ANOTHER batch of 1-1.Dennis vehicles has recently been commissioned for service by the London and North Eastern Railway Co., further to coordinate road and rail transport. The vehicles are 30-cwt. forward-control tilt vans, of the type shown in an accompanying illustration, and they are being. used for express parcels
service.
In addition to the use of the alternative tyre equipment of 33-in. by 5-in. dimensions, certain chassis modifications have been incorporated to meet the special requirements of the purchaser. The type of high-duty engine used is equipped with an auxiliary oil cleaner of the external, high-pressure kind, through which the oil passes immediately after leaving the pump. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that the connectingrd big-ends of all )Dennis engines are B44
drilled, the holes registering with the oil leads in the crank pins once in every revolution.
A further feature which aids in the reduction of wear is the use of a thermostat in the cooling circuit, whereby the engine rapidly reaches and maintains its
best working temperature. Additionally, if left standing for d considerable period, the engine is enabled by this fitment to retain its warmth for a longer period, as thermo-syphonic circulation is prevented when the water reaches the critical temperature at which the device has been set.
A Zenith carburetter and a Simms magneto with automatic control are among the auxiliaries which the railway company specified. Provision is made for fitting a power-driven tyre pump to the gearbox, but in other respects the transmission follows standard practice, except for the rear-axle ratio which is slightly lower than normal—fl to 1.
Towing hooks are fitted at both the front and the rear, whilst there is a robust guard-bar in front of the radiator and side lifeguards between the front and rear wheels.
The bodies were built in the Dennis shops to the railway company's own design. Each body weighs under 15 ewt., has an internal height of 6 ft. 6 ins., an external width of the same dimension and a length of 11 ft. 7 ins., the lastnamed being made possible by the forward mounting of the driver's seat.
To ensure the utmost accessibility when dealing with engine overhauls, the Dennis two-piece cab principle is used to advantage. The removal of a few nuts and bolts enables the whole of the upper half to be removed, so that an overhead hoist can be applied for direct lifting of the power unit.
The front of the cab is not glazed, but a sheet-metal apron with a canvas extension, stretching backwards from the dashboard, affords protection to the driver and roundsman. A Pyrene fireextinguisher figures in the equipment