Motor Rail (later Simplex) built thousands of small petrol and diesel shunters for the military and industry, mostly for narrow gauge lines. The biggest seller was the 20/28 which was in production from 1935 to 1959 [1].
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| Motor Rail 7108/1936 Arkle at the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway |
| Information |
| Built: |
1935-59 |
| Builder: |
Motor Rail |
| Motor: |
Dorman 2DWD diesel |
| Power: |
20 hp (15 kW) |
| Wheel arrangement: |
4wDM |
The 20/28 was a development of older Motor Rail locomotives which had their origin in petrol trench tractor shunters built for the British Army in the First World War. The 20/28 was available in two weights (2½ and 4½ tons) and could be fitted with a cab if needed. Many were used underground in mines and could be fitted with an exhaust conditioner.
Some continued in use in the 1980s and 90s. Many have been preserved.
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| Another Simplex at the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway |
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| Number 30 (Motor Rail 8695/1941) at Stonehenge Works |
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| Another view of Arkle |
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| Cabless Motor Rail 9976/1954 at the Statfold Barn Railway |
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| Motor Rail 8720/1941 Anna at Stonehenge Works |
[1] Alan M Keef, Simplex Locomotives at Work (Lightmoor Press, 2019) p. 9
