LMS Route: Rugby to Wolverhampton

LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Lichfield

LMS Route: Birmingham New Street to Soho and Perry Barr

Curzon Street Goods Station: lnwrcs3857

Foden three-ton steam lorry, Fleet No 7A registration number M 9698, built in June 1918 joins the parade in September 1918. The nearly new steam lorry would have looked a magnificent sight in its L&NWR lined out black livery with the coat of arms on the water tank just in front of the cab. The ladies standing up are again in similar clothing to others in the parade but are bare headed. The banners on the side of the lorry are not promoting the recruitment of ladies to the railway industry but is addressing the need for the public and businesses to be more efficient in their everyday engagement with the railway. The side of former Grand Junction Railway station can be seen in background.

Steam powered lorries were the earliest form of lorry and came in two basic forms: overtype and undertype, the distinction being the position of the engine relative to the boiler. In 1896 the restrictions affecting road transport were eased, which permitted vehicles under 3 tons to travel at up to 12 mph without a red flag. With this relaxation Foden produced a series of four prototype wagons and as a result of the experience gained, Foden was able to build a three-ton wagon for the War Office 1901 self-propelled lorry trial. This design was consistently faster and more economical over the arduous road trials but was placed second overall as it was claimed that the Thornycroft entry had better off-road performance. Foden's wagon was nevertheless regarded by most commentators as a clear winner. This model was the basis for a highly successful line of vehicles which were produced over the next 30 years. The great majority of Foden steam lorries were overtype, but undertypes were also produced.

To purchase a copy of this photograph please visit http://lnwrs.zenfolio.com/ the LNWR Society's photographic website and quote Rte033.

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