SGJ Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Earlyer today I went to Midland Road Just outside of the new building on the new sidings there was a track vehicle and think it would make a nice project. I don't know what it would be used for but it did look nice, is it a shunting loco or some type of O-T-P ? SGJ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Worsdell forever Posted March 16, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 16, 2013 Good grief! there is a prototype for this. Looks like a works shunter to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGJ Posted March 16, 2013 Author Share Posted March 16, 2013 Good grief! there is a prototype for this. Looks like a works shunter to me. I think that model looks nice for my sons collection, DCC ready and fun ! (im wondering how to modify lol ) SGJ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
a98087 Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 That's look like a battery or electric loco used for shunting locos whilst on a wheel lathe. there usually found in depots, and are designed to be slow, very controllable, and usually remote controlled. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric709 Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 that is indeed the "mule" for the new wheel lathe at Midland Road, the new building is the lathe and completed in the last month or so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
talisman56 Posted March 19, 2013 Share Posted March 19, 2013 Good grief! there is a prototype for this. Looks like a works shunter to me. They'll have difficulty getting anything to stay coupled to 'Underground Ernie' - the hook is on the wrong way up! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Steven B Posted March 20, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted March 20, 2013 There's a similar shunting "Mule" across town at Neville Hill for shunting stock through the wheel lathe: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrew_cowell/5347315358/ Freightliner drivers must be a bit soft as their mule has an enclosed cab! ) Happy modelling. Steven B. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGJ Posted April 7, 2013 Author Share Posted April 7, 2013 that is indeed the "mule" for the new wheel lathe at Midland Road, the new building is the lathe and completed in the last month or so. The "mule" has worked this week, got a picture with a wagon behind it earlier today, does mule stand for anything in perticula or is it a nickname ? SGJ (pic taken 07 April 2013 ) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 Mule seems to be a term that has been employed for a device used to move vehicles within a limited area, for instance under the loading racks of an oil refinery, or over the unloading hoppers at a port. Sometimes they resemble a small locomotive, quite often they're simply a device that sits between the rails, and is hitched to a wagon axle or coupling to move it (Here's an example of this type:- http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/oilterminals/h3e51070#h3e51070 ). Googling 'Fowey Harbour' may produce images of the latter type, whilst the former Redland quarry at Mountsorrel has examples resembling locos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pacific231G Posted April 7, 2013 Share Posted April 7, 2013 . The "mule" has worked this week, got a picture with a wagon behind it earlier today, does mule stand for anything in perticula or is it a nickname ? SGJ (pic taken 07 April 2013 ) In the UK animal shunting was AFAIK normally done with horses so I wonder whether the term came from N. America where I think mules (a usually but not always infertile hybrid between a horse and a donkey) were far more widely used as pack and draft animals. On ships, especially large sailing ships, the small auxiliary steam engine used to power capstans and winches was known as a donkey engine so this is quite a common etymology Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamperman36 Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 I seem to remember you could get a kit for a similar vehicle from Walthers in America in ho gauge, It is also possible to get a working vehicle from 1 of the European manufacturers also in ho gauge Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieB Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 The term "mule" is in quite widespread use for dedicated shunting locomotives, most famously the locomotives used to haul ships through the locks of the Panama Canal. The term is fairly common in Latin America. The comparable term "goat" is widely used in the USA for small, dedicated yard shunters (erm, "switchers") or its equivalent "Sik" used in Holland. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stadman Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Some are remote controlled for shunting onto wheel lathes at various depots. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGJ Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Some are remote controlled for shunting onto wheel lathes at various depots. I think this one at Midland Road is remote / radio controlled, a man was stood next to it when moving a wagon a few weeks ago, I didn't see anyone in its cab but i didn't have the best of views SGJ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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