EARLY steam market leader Beamish Museum has recreated a LNWR ‘Crewe tractor’ road-rail vehicle.
Based on over 130 vehicles adapted by the LNWR at Crewe works in 1916-17, the project at the County Durham museum is the first phase in a multi-part programme of restoration work on three Ford Model Ts.
![](https://www.mortonsdirect.co.uk/heritagerailway/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/02/HR-225-BEAMISH.jpg)
The inspiration for the ‘Crewe Tractor’ is said to have come from the daughter of the LNWR’s Chief Mechanical Engineer, Charles Bowen-Cooke, who had become aware of a lack of powered transport on the lightly-laid tramways operated behind the trenches across France and Belgium in world War One.
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The design saw the adaptation of a standard Ford Model T (manufactured in Trafford Park) complete with a lightweight utility body and kit-form railway chassis. Within one hour, they could be adapted from road trim to a 2ft gauge locomotive with load space.
Read more in Issue 225 of Heritage Railway – on sale February 9
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