Motor Rail Simplex 105H006 “Mells” is on long term loan to the Trust from the family of the late Peter Nicholson.
Built in 1969 she worked in and around the British Aluminium Company, Fort William works in Scotland. Saved for preservation she went to the Devon Railway Centre then arrived in Suffolk in 2014.
Her 3 cylinder, air cooled Deutz diesel engine powers a hydraulic unit, giving forward and reverse gears. This power is transmitted to the axles via chains. Control is via a single lever in a W shaped frame. Left and right movement giving forward and reverse motion, up and down increasing or decreasing the engine revs.
On arrival at the Trust, her cab was removed and a thorough overhaul undertaken as she had been out of use for some time. Once returned to working condition, she had proved very useful as a light shunter around the 3 foot gauge rails at Steamworks.