chivers shunter

One of two petrol-electic shunters that were used by the company. Built just after WW1 from two old buses. This machine used to run on the company metals in Histon and was known to have helped the station master next door. The second shunt was used at Shippea Hill factory near Ely. Both were sold for scrap in the late 1960's.
.
Just to add some more information on these petrol-electric shutters.
The company had a very able man in charge of the engineering department; Charles Lack who I believed was head hunted who also had his own company in nearby Cottenham. Just before the First World War Lack had been to look at some petrol-electric trucks that were being used by the London Country Council. These were being used during the peaks bringing spare dummy cars out onto the track etc. Charles Lack came back to Histon with a plan in his mind for something that he could use on site. However before anything was build we went to war. However after the war had ended Lack went onto construct these shunters out of some old bus frames. The plans for these trains are held in the local record office.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• chivers
• shunter