1903 Petrol Electric Autocar

what is it?

The 1903 Petrol Electric Autocars were built by the North Eastern Railway in 1903 at their carriage works in York, England. These were powered by petrol engines which generated electricity for two traction motors which were mounted on the bogie underneath. This pioneering means of powering a railway vehicle eventually developed into the diesel-electric technology used on most diesel locomotives worldwide.

who runs it

NENorth Eastern RailwayLondon and North Eastern Railway

base stats

• seats 52passengers
• built 2made in total

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 123 years ago, in 1903.
• 📏16.3 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
• ⌛Served for 28 years (1903–1931).

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

spec sheet

built

1903

in service from

1903

retired

1931

status

retired

number built

2

kind

multiple unit

traction

diesel

origin

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

builders

North Eastern Railway, Holgate Road carriage works

operators

North Eastern Railway, London and North Eastern Railway

top speed

—

power

—

length

16.3 m

capacity

52 passengers

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