Steam lorries

[Bryanbowdell]

Does anyone have any info about military use of steam lorries in WW1, in particular in Africa and the Middle East?

[Bryanbowdell]

Only managed to find a couple of photos so far.

[juergen c. olk]

Here is a picture of a steam tractor used to tow the "Mimi and the TouTou" to lake tanganiyka. Quite the undertaking,and Spicer Simonenson the commander of the expedition wore a gown in the campaign,much to the chagrin of his fellow officers,but practical.

[The Dozing Dragon]

No info of my own to contribute (as yet) but what a great thread....

[juergen c. olk]

Fowler steam wagon used in second Boer war and beyond

[juergen c. olk]

..more Fowler

[juergen c. olk]

..Fowler

[juergen c. olk]

..Fowler gun car

[juergen c. olk]

..German southwest Africa Tractor

[juergen c. olk]

South African steam tractor

[former user]

this is nice, but I wouldn't expect too much mechanization beyond northern africa, and especially not steam tractors, since they were too heavy without roads

the boat expedition was something special, they built special roads for it
even the parts they used to assemble the german boats in east africa were carried by either train or manpower

[juergen c. olk]

You are absolutely correct sir,lots of manpower,like the dragging of the Koenigsberg guns all over Deutsches OstAfrika. But these vehicles looked too cool not to post. Yes I am sure these vehicles probably spent more time stuck in mud and being dragged out by men.

[former user]

anyway, who cares about this when it comes to a cool VSF scenario.....  

but I am getting curious - where did they use the SA steam tractor?

[Bryanbowdell]

juergen ,

again you have stunned and impressed me I really the armoured Fowler.

I was thinking of the types of motorised transport that would have been used when suitable, and steam powered lorries appeal to me for their distinctive appearance, and I presume they were probably quite low-tech and the technology was probably familiar to any train operatives etc

[Bryanbowdell]

Found this online:

This appeared in ‘Engineering’ magazine in January 1903.

 Steam lorries (trucks) were common in the UK, but I suspect this was a one-off.

 Made for a gold mining company in Africa, to haul heavy loads where a conventional truck or traction engine would be unsuitable (difficult terrain, soft ground). It had to be relatively light. The photo shows it hauling a test load, part of which is on the platform in front of the cab. Pig iron or rhubarb?

 V-4 single-acting steam engine with poppet valves, max speed 450 rpm. The cut-off could be varied by sliding the camshaft to bring a different cam profile into play.

 Power steering as standard! This used hydraulic rams operating a steel cable to turn the front axle. Hydraulic pressure came from the steam-driven boiler feed pumps!

 Made by Simpson & Bibby of Pomona Engine Works, Cornbrook, Manchester. I hadn’t heard of them before, and a search didn’t give much away, although there was a reference to their patents being taken over by Alley & McLellan who went on to establish Sentinel in Shrewsbury. They became the most prolific makers of steam lorries, and switched to diesel engines and locos before being taken over to become Rolls-Royce's diesel division.

 The lorry was tested with a run to the Cat & Fiddle Inn. This wasn’t exactly the Gold Coast, but wasn’t as cushy as it might sound. Quite a few members will be familiar with the steep and winding nature of this route from Manchester to Buxton, but in 1902 the road was in a bad state. The test load was 5 tons on the platform and 8 tons on a trailer. 28 tons gross!