A ROAD TRAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1939, Page 8

A ROAD TRAIN

DEVELOPMENT OF AUSTRALIA

"■'■ Introduced as an experiments in.. 19|$4 and subsequently takers over by the Australian Governments, a road motor train has been operating between Alice Springs and the Katherine River district- lUnder the^ new development scheme for the inlefibr: ©£• Australia the- train is to be used to maintain a regular scheduled /service during the dry season for all .stations w on •'• the, Barklyi Tableland arid^ in. the Victoria River district and portions of the Northern.'Territory*

The'train, which is about 70ft long, consists of a tractor and two trailers. The tractor .has a-Diesel engine of 130 h.p., arid weighs nearly 9 tons. It can take a payload of 3 tons on its own platform and: each trailer 6 tons, mak* ing 15, tons of freight The trailers themselves each weigh 4 tons, so that the loaded weight of the complete 'train for the road is a matter of considerably over 30 tons. This is distributed .over 24 wheels, each equipped with large sectional low-pressure balloon tyres. The tractor itself has four axles and eight wheels, all of them taking the drive. The ■ steering gear/actuates the wheels on both the front and rear axles of the tractor, by which arrangement a very small turning circle is secured, an essential' provision where two trailers are in tow. The trailer wheels follow exactly in the track of those of the tractor. A range of seven gears is provided by two gear-boxes.

Under favourable conditions the train will average 13 m.p.h. at a cost slightly under. fourpence per ton mile, including all working charges, depreciation, and interest.. The ordinary freight in ;,the past of Australia where it operates is Is per ton mile. Since the advent of the train four years ago great improvements have been made to the roads and tracks, and the conventional motor-truck, so long as it is suitably powered and can operate quite satisfactorily.