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12/08/2010
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Drainage contractor Super-Rod has taken delivery of a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter specially adapted for running on railway lines.
 The 7.5-tonne 7C18 4x4, supplied by local Mercedes-Benz dealer Enza, is now working for the Stoke-on-Trent firm's On Line-On Track Drainage division, on a drain cleaning contract with track provider Network Rail.
Its railway drive was designed and installed by LH Access Technology, of Burton upon Trent. Driven by a gearbox-mounted PTO, it incorporates a turntable that allows the Canter to drive onto the railway line at any angle. Rail wheels are then hydraulically lowered and aligned with the track, and the truck lifted and turned to face in the required direction.
"That one feature alone makes working with the new vehicle so much easier," says Super-Rod director Chris Brayne. "Roads tend to bisect rail lines at 90 degrees rather than running parallel to them, so not having to line the truck up with the tracks before engaging the wheels is a real benefit."
Meanwhile, the Canter's all-wheel drive system and raised ride height mean accessing off-road railway embankments is no problem either.
Mounted on the Canter's ladder chassis is a 5,000-litre tank with a vacuum pump and jetting equipment powered by a second, engine-driven PTO, all fitted by GK&N Services, of Huddersfield.
"We have an older Canter, which was also supplied by Enza, and that has been extremely reliable," comments Brayne. "The chassis is also light, so even with all of the heavy equipment it stills offers sufficient payload for us to be able to fill the on board water tank."
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Author
Brian Tinham
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