LMS Route: Rugby to Wolverhampton
LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Coventry Station: lnwrcov3749

A rare view of the Michelin Type 9 railcar's rear end, said to have been taken at Coventry in April 1932. Visible are the klaxon horn, single headlamp and windscreen wiper on the end door. Despite these embellishments it remains difficult to see how these railcars could be driven from the rear. Was there really linkage to the road vehicle type controls at the other end? Was there really a driving position behind the opening end door? These are questions to which answers have proved evasive. The large disc on the near mudguard/splasher presumably deputises for a tail lamp. It is not known what the cranked bar apparently protruding from the rear of the vehicle is. This view gives an idea of the construction of the passenger section of these contraptions. Bearing in mind the body was of doped canvas on a lightweight tubular frame, the passenger section was little more than a tent on wheels. Crash Worthiness? Minus ten perhaps.

Darren Kitson

Photograph courtesy of the Mike Morant Collection

Film of the Experimental Michelin Rail Cars in action

	French streamlined rail car On the LMS rail track between Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire and Euston, London. Originally part of the film 'New in a Nutshell'.
	Michelin auto-trein (1932) The Michelin Rail Car performing on Dutch Tracks. Its similar to that trialled in the UK.

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