A Shunting Attachment for the Fordson.
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AN attachment for fitting to a ...standard Fordson tractor has been recently developed by the Hanger Motor Co., Broad Street, Birmingham, the combination being intended to be used in place of oil engines, horses and power capstans for truck shunting in private railway sidings. The tractor itself is a standard production, whilst the buffer attachment consists of two large .steel channels which are bolted at the forward end to the frame and held at the rear by a speeial Jelamping device which extends round the axle casing. Two somewhat similar members are carried athwart the frame and support the wooden 'buffers. Only 12 bolts .are, used in erecting the outfit, which can be put together intwo hours by a man and a youth. The heavy construction of the attachment, of course, helps to increase adhesion ; otherwise the wheels of the Fordson would spin under tbe load. , In the ordinary course of the work of shunting trucks, the ,tractor -Would be brought up to the trucks and then set in motion. By means of the attachment, however, the tractor can be driven head • on at stationary trucks at approximately
3 miles an hour, the force of the ensuing impact not causing any harm, so that a Considerable amount of time is saved.
It has been proved that the tractor can push more than it can pull, owing to the fact that it has a tendency to lift the trnck when commencing to push, and
thereby obtains a considerable purchase. In the course of a recent demonstration the tractor pushed 22 standard rail wagons, the gross weight of which was 139 tons 18 cwt., whilst the weight of the tractor with driver was 2 tone. 5 cwt. The price of the attachment is only MO.