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Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre is a 36 acre site
set in the South Downs National Park. Dedicated to the industrial heritage
of the South East, exhibits include a narrow-gauge railway and bus service
(both provide free nostalgic travel around the site), Connected Earth
telecommunications hall, energy electricity hall, printing workshop and much
more. The Museum is also home to traditional crafts people, such as the
stained glass maker, blacksmith and potter.
Facebook:-
Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre
Website:-
www.amberleymuseum.co.uk
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All images link to larger
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Narrow Gauge
Railway Images
Motor Rail - Works No.MR11001
Motor Rail MR11001, built 1956 (Prototype 60S), from
London Brick Co, Yaxley, Peterborough.
Motor Rail MR11001 at Amberley narrow gauge station
Photo: © Ian Boyle9th September 2012
Motor Rail MR11001 at Cragside station
Photo: © Ian Boyle9th September 2012
Hunslet - Works No. HE8969
'Emergency Polar Bear Replacement Service'
Hunslet (Works No. HE8969, was built in 1980, for MOD
Bishopton, Glasgow. Ex-Groudle Glen Railway steam loco Polar Bear
was due to be in steam a few days before my visit. This was not possible so
this Hunslet diesel was substituted and temporarily named
Emergency Polar Bear Replacement Service.
Images of 4w Hunslet HE8969 leaving the Amberley
terminus
Photo: © Ian Boyle,13th September 2012
Images of 4w Hunslet HE8969 at Cragside
Photo: © Ian Boyle,13th September 2012
Images of 4w Hunslet HE8969 approaching Brockham
Photo: © Ian Boyle,13th September 2012
Images of 4w Hunslet HE8969 leaving Brockham
Photo: © Ian Boyle,13th September 2012
Images of 4w Hunslet HE8969 arriving Brockham
Photo: © Ian Boyle,13th September 2012
Images of 4w Hunslet HE8969 at Cragside
Photo: © Ian Boyle,13th September 2012
Images of 4w Hunslet HE8969 at the Amberley terminus
Photo: © Ian Boyle,13th September 2012
Images of 4w Hunslet HE8969 in the woods
Photo: © Ian Boyle,13th September 2012
An experimental 'tramocar' service was started in
Worthing in 1924. This used small single-decker vehicles manufactured by
Shelvoke and Drewry. The first Tramocars had solid wheels, open sides and a
tiller instead of a conventional steering wheel; later models were fully
enclosed and had pneumatic tyres. The initial service along the promenade
was provided by two vehicles in red livery, operated by 'Bill' Gates, under
contract to the grandly named Parade, Licensing and Burials Committee of
Worthing Council. The first two vehicles were sold to Jersey in 1934 and
pictures exist of one of these being towed by a horse under the wartime
German occupation. Bill Gates sold Tramocars Ltd's operations to Southdown
Motor Services in 1938, at which time there were 15 Tramocars and a network
of routes across Worthing. Two new vehicles of more modern design were
bought by Southdown and appeared in their green livery. The other remaining
vehicles were also repainted, although the first five deliveries had already
been sold. The service ran until 1942, but operations steadily converted to
Dennis Falcons and Leyland Tigers from 1939.
These were petrol-engined vehicles, not electric as might be assumed from
the milkfloat-like appearance, and they were controlled by two tillers, one
for steering and one for controlling throttle, gears and brakes. There was
also an emergency foot brake and a 'dead man's peddle' which had to be
depressed permanently whilst the vehicle was in motion. Top speed was 25
mph, later reduced to minimise noise. Later vehicles had conventional
steering wheels due to changes in the law. The chassis was not originally
intended for passenger use and its marketing name was the Freighter. Over
2500 were built of which around 50 were buses, 17 of these in Worthing.
Worthing Tramocar - replica body built on an original
Shelvoke & Drewry chassis
A fascinating little book on the Worthing Tramocars
containing a selection of previously published articles by various authors
Published by the Southdown Enthusiasts Club in 2002
Amberley Brochure to be added
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