A Caledonian Railway Motor Car Service

[rogerfarnworth]

In July 1909, the Railway Magazine noted that the Caledonian Railway had inaugurated a motor car service on its rails. Just a short journey was involved crossing the Connel Ferry Bridge and running from Connel Ferry to either North Connel or Benderloch.

The Caledonian Railway Rail-motor Car

In June 2024, I picked up a few copies of the Railway Magazine from the early 20th century. In July 1909, the Railway Magazine noted that the Caledonian Railway had inaugurated a motor car service …

rogerfarnworth.com

The Caledonian Railway purchased an ordinary road-motor car, and under the superintendence of Mr. J. F. McIntosh, this was converted, at St Rollox Works, into the rail-motor car. ... The car performs, daily, several journeys from Connel Ferry across the bridge to North Connel, and four of these trips in each direction are extended an additional 2.25 miles beyond North Connel to Benderloch, and it is on these longer journeys that road motor cars are conveyed on the carriage truck provided for the purpose, which is attached as a trailer to the rail-motor car.

 

[Buzby]

From memory, it was expediency - the Connel bridge was initially for trains only so it made some sense following its opening in 1903 - the trains ceased taking cars in 1914 when a roadway was added.

 

[rogerfarnworth]

Yes, seemingly so. The rail vehicle and it's wagon are interesting!

 

[Rescars]

What an interesting service - and vehicle(s)! The Oxford Companion makes no note of this, but does record that the GWR started to transport motor cars through the Severn Tunnel in 1909 also - in this instance to avoid the long detour via Gloucester. I wonder if any other similar services were offered elsewhere pre WW1.

The working of this contraption is intriguing. By definition, a charabanc goes much more happily in one direction than the other and this machine appears to have provision for the driver at one end only. Was there provision for turning this rail car at the end of each run? It seems improbable that there was a turntable at Benderloch and the proposed triangle at Connel Ferry was never completed AFAIK. Yet, doing the whole trip in reverse gear propelling the truck seems unlikely too - though the photos showing the bonnet open implies that the engine cooling may have struggled at times. Does anyone know the make of the road motor? Possibly a Glasgow firm? Halley's were just down the road at Yoker.

The 15/- fare seems like a nice little earner for the Caledonian, priced to discourage excess demand perhaps. The Bank of England calculator indicates that 15/- in 1909 equates to £75 today - which seems quite a lot to charge for a 3.5 mile trip, even if it took 15 minutes!!