GCR petrol-electric railcar

what is it?

The GCR petrol-electric railcar, also informally known as the Bollington Bug, was a 2-bogied motorised coach purchased by the Great Central Railway in 1912 from British Westinghouse of Trafford Park, with the body being built by the United Electric Car Company of Preston. The engine, of an unknown maker, had a power output of 90 hp (67 kW), providing a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h), although it was only permitted to operate at a maximum speed of 40 mph (64 km/h). Driving positions were provided at either end of the railcar, with the leading cab being combined with the engine compartment, with notably large, externally mounted sliding doors either side of the engine and an engine silencer on the roof.

who runs it

GCGreat Central RailwayLondon and North Eastern Railway

base stats

• speed 64 km/htop speed
• power 67 kWpower output
• seats 50passengers

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

• 🎂First built 114 years ago, in 1912.
• 📏12.5 m long: about 3 cars parked nose to tail.
• ⌛Served for 23 years (1912–1935).

multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.

spec sheet

built

1912

in service from

1912

retired

1935

status

retired

number built

—

kind

multiple unit

traction

diesel

origin

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

builders

British Westinghouse, United Electric Car Company

designer

British Westinghouse

operators

Great Central Railway, London and North Eastern Railway

top speed

64 km/h

power

67 kW

length

12.5 m

capacity

50 passengers

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.