LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Kenilworth Station: lnwrk3767

The Daimler experimental railcar posed for the camera at Kenilworth station shortly before the outbreak of the First World War. The lamp on the bufferbeam, with a red lens, would indicate that the railcar has arrived at the station 'wrong' road. In all probability it was about to return to Coventry, the photograph being taken prior to the lamp being transferred to the other end of the railcar. Despite the railcar having integral head and tail lamps at each end, railway regulations stipulated an oil tail lamp must be carried. The railcar accommodated sixty seated passengers or one hundred and three with standing passengers. Entering service in April 1913, it was hampered by only having enough power to propel itself. As was later found to be the case, such designs needed have the flexibility to have a trailer attached in order to accommodate peak loadings. It is believed that the use of the railcar was suspended with the outbreak of the First World War but its eventual fate is unknown. To see the railcar from the opposite end of the vehicle see image 'lnwrgh3766'.

Photograph courtesy of the LNWR Society. To order a copy please visit LNWR Society Photograph Orders and quote reference ' SOC 0422'.

An historical article written by Ron Cadman and first published in Model Railway News, 1968 and then in the Daimler Owner's Club Newsletter can be read here

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