I've been driving past it all week, today I headed out on my bike with the camera after work to have a closer look;
Its four wheel drive and the rail wheels are driven by friction from the tyres. Here's a closer look at the drive roller;
I note that its not road legal, this layby is next to and accesses the Buxton - Manchester line and often has road-railers in it (usually excavators) which are delivered by low loader.
A last look;
Its certainly more impressive than the last road-rail cherrypicker that I photographed.
Paul.
That's an impressive bit of kit! I like the way the rail wheels are driven, it gives all sorts of justification for rubber band drives! Interesting that there are lights on the front, but not the rear too. I was looking at the vehicle thinking that it must be hybridized, using parts from forestry equipment etc, but it seems like a one-off. Facsinating.
ReplyDeleteI didn't see this one move, but I have seen road-rail excavaters using the same drive system running on the railway. Its quite an odd sight as the road wheels run in the opposite direction to the direction of travel.
DeleteI didn't expect that, it must look strange :-)
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