Cat-of-all-work sweeps clean
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Erik Johnson, of Mercedes-Benz, has shattered one of my cherished illusions. He says a Unimog is not a one-legged cat, but is an "all-purpose mobile power plant," the name of which is an acronym of universal motor gerat.
One of them is being frightfully universal in Blackpool. It has rail as well as, road wheels and can be converted in a minute or so into a locomotive to haul brokendown trams. With its frontmounted rotary brush it can also put the beach back where it belongs when winter gales and flood tides pile up sand on the 111/2-mile sea-front track from Blackpool to Fleetwood.
In the past, tram services have had to be suspended for a day or more while gangs with heavy clothing, goggles, brushes and shovels defied nature. Now pussy does the job in 11/2 hours, says Erik.
The Unimog has a tower, too, so that overhead lines that have been blown down can be repaired. The cosy heated cab can also be used for small bingo sessions.