Miscellaneous

Avon Bridge Power Station: misc_abps153

Publicity photograph showing the Avon Bridge Power Station's battery powered narrow gauge locomotive. The initials LWEPC stand for Leicester & Warwickshire Electric Power Company who owned the Power Station and surrounding electrical distribution network. The locomotive was manufactured by Joseph Booth & Brothers Ltd at their Union Foundry, Rodley near Leeds between 1926 and 1928. Joseph Booth & Brothers Ltd is better known for the manufacture of cranes, but they produced battery locomotives for mines and industry under the 'Union' brandname together with battery trucks and tractors for factories. The two foot gauge 0-4-0 locomotive (works serial no. LD 171) on the left had electric power supplied from the 48 volt battery on the trailer attached behind. The locomotive was powered by a 4 h.p. 100 amp electric motor (no. 2728) operating at 750 r.p.m., which gave it a maximum speed (with no load) of six miles per hour. The maximum load was limited to 8 tons. According to the publicity the design could be modified to suit alternative gauges as well as being either 'gas tight', for operating in highly combustible atmospheres such as mines, or fitted with standard electrical equipment where no such dangers occurred.

Robert Ferris

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