Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co.

The Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co. was a steam wagon manufacturer in Leeds, England. They produced their first wagon in 1901. Their designs had a novel double-ended transverse boiler. In 1911 the company's name was changed to Yorkshire Commercial Motor Co., but reverted to Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co. in 1922. Steam wagon production ceased in 1937, and the company was finally dissolved in 1993.[1][2]

Not to be confused with Yorkshire Engine Company.

Denby Maiden

Other local steam vehicle manufacturers were John Fowler & Co., J&H McLaren & Co., and the Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Company, along with several steam railway engine builders.

Double-ended boiler
Yorkshire steam wagon double-ended boiler

The novel double-ended transverse-mounted boiler was used to avoid problems of tilting when climbing hills. Internally it resembled a locomotive or Fairlie boiler with a central firebox and multiple fire-tubes to each end. In the Yorkshire though, a second bank of fire-tubes above returned to a central smokebox and a single chimney.

Preserved machines
The manufacturer's plate on a preserved steam wagon

There are 10 known preserved machines recorded. Several of these were restored by the late Tom Varley.

There is one of these engines in Australia, in regular use at Milawa, near Melbourne, Victoria. It is fitted with a lightweight open-air body. It is numbered 1443.

There is also one at Booleroo Steam & Traction Preservation Society Inc

  • Yorkshire Steam Waggon - Wagon No 34 of 1903 by the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Company of Leeds England. It is the oldest known surviving Yorkshire in the world.

Imported by T Russel of Geelong Vic and used by Smith & Timms in Adelaide SA before going to Whyalla SA for use in the construction of the town's first dam. It finished its working life in 1918.

See also

References
  1. Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co Archived 17 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. The Undertype Steam Road Waggon, Maurice A Kelly, 1975
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