Registation number
N/A
Engine
13 litre 4 cylinder paraffin engine
Horsepower
50 BHP
History
This vehicle, believed to be the only one of its type left in existence, was designed to haul heavy artillery. Earlier traction engines were slow to operate, produced smoke which marked them as targets for enemy fire, needed large volumes of water, and were too heavy for soft terrain. Thornycroft's paraffin-fuelled internal combustion engine could be started quickly and enabled rapid mobilisation of artillery.
Did you know?
This Thornycroft vehicle won the £750 prize at the War Department Trails 1909. It replaced horses on the battlefield, and earlier traction engines whose smoke also marked them out as targets for enemy fire.
