Yet another mystery vehicle...

[V10Mike]

This has been hidden under a tarpaulin until recently, but having been revealed I am no closer to knowing what it is!

Looks as if it might be gas powered, and is fitted with a fifth wheel (or should that be fourth wheel in this case!).

So maybe for shunting trailers around inside a building? Interesting and unusual, nevertheless.



BTW, that is a lightweight Land Rover behind.

[MXRod]

Scammell scarab

[Rotaree]

MXRod said:

Scammell scarab

Yep - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scammell_Scarab

[gt40steve]

[mac96]

Damn, for once I knew the answer but too late!

[V10Mike]

Too easy, it seems! Sorry!

[Blib]

I remember these things pottering around London, back in the 60s.

[Skyedriver]

Early 1990's a bloke a few streets away was restoring one. Think he was the same guy who bought my Lancia Fulvia but I may be wrong there.

[aeropilot]

I think it's quite an early Scarab as well, probably an early 50's one...?

[hidetheelephants]

Urban artics before they were a thing.

[mac96]

I don't think I have ever seen an enthusiast owned one on the road. Odd really, they are so small you would think they would be more popular. Still, they are very slow so I suppose it is more like owning a tractor than a truck!

[aeropilot]

The Scarab was one of those things that were once everywhere, and then almost overnight had completely disappeared before you noticed they had all gone.

[hidetheelephants]

mac96 said:

I don't think I have ever seen an enthusiast owned one on the road. Odd really, they are so small you would think they would be more popular. Still, they are very slow so I suppose it is more like owning a tractor than a truck!

Slow, noisy and lethal in a crash, they had ~40hp and were geared for lugging heavy loads around.

[ferret50]

British Railways were a big user of the Scammels.

A very similar coupling system was used with Bedford tractor units at RAF Stafford in the 70's, A few of the fleet were used to train up HGV 1 drivers. I was one such 'erk'!

The trailer front legs folded/unfolded as one reversed under, and dropped down as you pulled the unit out. It was possible to pick up/drop the trailer without leaving the cab, the air lines were attached to solinod valves on the unit chassis that interacted with the trailer brakes.

Airlines could also be attached in the conventional way as well.

Anyone else remember them?

[aeropilot]

ferret50 said:

British Railways were a big user of the Scammels.

A very similar coupling system was used with Bedford tractor units at RAF Stafford in the 70's, A few of the fleet were used to train up HGV 1 drivers. I was one such 'erk'!

The trailer front legs folded/unfolded as one reversed under, and dropped down as you pulled the unit out. It was possible to pick up/drop the trailer without leaving the cab, the air lines were attached to solinod valves on the unit chassis that interacted with the trailer brakes.

That was one of the big points of the Scarab design, or a mechanical horse as it was originally called.

Great old period film here of this principle done by Scammell from back in 1957.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkwEfeE6GGs

[Flying Phil]

They have two or three in use at Quorn on the Great Central Railway. They do demonstrations at the Gala events, and also reside at Mountsorrel in the Granite Cafe/Nunckley Hill site.

[Dogwatch]

Had a Dinky toy (might have been an another make) of one which, like the real thing, could couple to its trailer simply by reversing up to it.

[ferret50]

aeropilot said:

ferret50 said:

British Railways were a big user of the Scammels.

A very similar coupling system was used with Bedford tractor units at RAF Stafford in the 70's, A few of the fleet were used to train up HGV 1 drivers. I was one such 'erk'!

The trailer front legs folded/unfolded as one reversed under, and dropped down as you pulled the unit out. It was possible to pick up/drop the trailer without leaving the cab, the air lines were attached to solinod valves on the unit chassis that interacted with the trailer brakes.

That was one of the big points of the Scarab design, or a mechanical horse as it was originally called.

Great old period film here of this principle done by Scammell from back in 1957.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkwEfeE6GGs

Thanks for the link!

[RDMcG]

Great vid-brought back memories!

[Yertis]

I remember seeing them as a boy, usually around railway stations (for obvious reasons). Then one day they just vanished, a bit like those blue invalid carriages.