Motor Road Transport For Commercial Purposes
(Liquid Fuel, Steam, Electricity)

............ ..... . —- CHAPTER XIII STEAM WAGON AND STEAM TRACTOR.—RUNNING COSTS (3-10 tons) Designs of steam-driven chassis vary in the arrange- ment of the position of the units, and it stands to reason that each. firm of manufacturers has its own ideas on boiler and engine construction. The pros- pective buyer, however, need not be greatly bewildered with. regard to his choice of vehicle on the score of reliability, because although some makes may be more suitable than others for a particular class of work, the majority of British-built steam wagons are con- structed on sound engineering lines. For this reason it will not be found that any wide disparity exists in the running costs of similar types—-but of different make—when employed on work of a uniform nature. The two Types of Steam Lorry. The chief point to be borne in mind is that there are two distinet types of steam lorry, one which has an overtype engine, and the other in which the engine power plant is arranged to allow of more even load tonnage distribution. In view of the law restricting axle weights, the latter class may prove the more economical of the two in ton-mile calculations in certain cases of haulage. The two following tables of average costs (see next page)—based on experience, and made up in 1919— relate to two different makes of steam wagon of the class which does not employ an overtype engine. 99