Rail Rovers

The Rail Rover Conversions

Details: Category: Specialist Conversions; Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 December 2011 10:11; Written by Site Admin; Hits: 5098

Rail Rovers

The rail conversion was tried on a number of occasions. One of the first "Rail Rovers" used flanged railway wheels in place of the road wheels. This was intended for inspection and light shunting. Trials showed that shunting was impractical due to the size of the rolling stock compared to the Land Rover. The flanged wheels later had a rubber composite 'tyre' for better traction, but the project never really gained interest from the projected customer base, and was quietly dropped.

A Rail Rover under test, Longmoor, 1963.

Series I Rail Rover

1962 Series II diesel rail rover

1962 Diesel Series II Rail Rover

Rail Rover - Press picture

Hunslet rail rover

Unusual narrow gauge Rail Rover pictured at Statfold Barn Railway

Picture by Jeremy Laytham

Road/Rail Rovers

More successful, were the combined road/rail conversions. These vehicles demonstrated quick acceleration when compared to small conventional locomotives. Intended to move personnel and small equipment, the main problem was that the Land Rover was often too small to trip the train detection circuitry, hence these kinds of conversions have limited use in the UK, mainly being used for track inspection and maintenance operations.

Early Road/Rail Rover. Note the wheel arch extensions.

Disco Road Railer - Land Rover press picture

1989 Discovery 1 Road/Rail conversion - Land Rover press picture

Permaquip built some Road/Rail Land Rover Defenders. Using their "Hy-Rail" conversion, the vehicles can be quickly made to run on railway tracks. They can tow two loaded trailers and travel at 15mph on the rails. The vehicles carry standard British Rail safety devices including front and rear lighting and an air horn.

Permaquip Road/Rail Rover.