Great Central Railway Petrol Autocar

In 1912 the Great Central Railway ordered this petrol-electric railcar, or autocar, from British Westinghouse, the bodywork sub-contracted out to the United Electric Car Company of Preston. The autocar had a six cylinder petrol engine powering a generator which fed two traction motors on one of the bogies. The autocar had a cab at each end and used a Westinghouse controller similar to that used in tram cars.

GCR Autocar [1]

Information
Number built:	1
Built:	1912
Builder:	United Electric Car Company of Preston British Westinghouse
Motor:	6-cylinder petrol
Power:	90 hp (67 kW)

The autocar began trials in early 1912, initially used between London Marylebone and South Harrow [1]. The autocar could carry fifty passengers, although it could only travel at up to 72 km/h (45 mp/h) it had good acceleration. After the war it was used a shuttle service between Macclesfield Central and Bollington. It remained in service, by now in LNER ownership, until 1935. 

Engine compartment and cab [1]

[1] "Westinghouse Petrol-Electric Car for GC Railway", Electrical Review (Vol 70 No. 1796) April 26 1912, p. 664