Motor Rail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Motor Rail is a British locomotive-building company, based in Bedford. Formed in 1911 as The Motor Rail & Tramcar Co Ltd, they built petrol and diesel engined locos, mainly narrow gauge. During World War 1 over 700 locos were supplied for use on temporary military supply railways. The trade name Simplex was used from the early days; in 1972 the company was renamed Simplex Mechanical Handling Ltd.
In 1987 loco manufacture ceased, business being transferred to Alan Keef Ltd of Ross-on-Wye, who continue to provide spares and have built several locos to Motor Rail designs.
[edit] Preserved Locomotives
Many Motor Rail products survive in preservation, and they are probably the most common make of narrow gauge locomotive still in existence in the United Kingdom.
Heritage railways with Motor Rail locomotives include:
- Corris Railway
- Ffestiniog Railway
- Golden Valley Light Railway
- Leighton Buzzard Railway
- Moseley Railway Trust
- Welsh Highland Railway
- West Lancashire Light Railway
[edit] References
- Hall, D.R. and Rowlands J.A.S. (2001). A Guide to Simplex Narrow Gauge Locomotives. Moseley Railway Trust. ISBN 0-9540878-0-1.
