Scammell coupling

[Bornfree]

I had to replace a drawbar eye today on a 5th wheel bogie. But it wasn't a 5th wheel coupling it was a scammell coupling I've never seen one before, what a clever piece of engineering the turntable stays on the trailer and a set of landing wheels drop down automatically when it uncouples and lift on coupling. And the lights and brakes automatically connect on coupling.

 

[James1979]

I had to replace a drawbar eye today on a 5th wheel bogie. But it wasn't a 5th wheel coupling it was a scammell coupling I've never seen one before, what a clever piece of engineering the turntable stays on the trailer and a set of landing wheels drop down automatically when it uncouples and lift on coupling. And the lights and brakes automatically connect on coupling.

Did you take any pics please?

 

[Bornfree]

Did you take any pics please?

Unfortunately not I didn't think of it at the time.

 

[James1979]

Unfortunately not I didn't think of it at the time.

I’ll look it up. Cheers.

 

[Tigman]

I'm only half a mile away from where Scammels was , I only went in the once , used to see the brand new Lorries without a cab being driven up and down the road , they flattened it and built flats on the land !

 

[OJCar]

As a small child I was fascinated by the Scammell Scarabs used by the Isle of Man Steam Packet at Douglas harbour.
They turned right around in a daftly small space and scurried about.

 

[500e]

We ran a fair No for a Chicken breeder to move the small chooks about great for what they were designed for, not fast but good in tight space
Pull the handle leave the trailer, vertical mag on all the ones we ran, suffered from damp, the railway drivers used to set the caps on fire to dry them out 6 cyl side valve.
Ours were older design this style

 

[Robotstar5]

I've seen a few at various shows.

 

[OJCar]

The ones I remember the IoMSP Co Ltd had were a mixture of all types of Scammell Scarabs.
I think I remember one that had a wooden built cab.

When I'm sober I will try and dig out some pictures.
(might be a while ... )

 

[clogs]

I seem to remember they could do a 180 degree turn within their own length.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

My grandfather used to drive them back when they were new. Interesting vehicles

 

[zzr1200]

A great coupling, UNTIL the release lever gets tapped in the cab and the trailer falls off without the leg/wheel dropping down in time, used to see loads of Post Office Scarabs in London lose their trailers.

Yes, I can remember them, I'm just an Old Fart...

 

[wristpin]

When the Dartford Tunnel first opened , two way traffic in a single bore, they had a Scarab at either end with a Harvey Frost recovery crane mounted directly on them to deal with breakdowns. The beauty of that setup was that the Scarabs could enter from the unblocked end and do u turn within the confines of the tunnel. I believe that one still exists in preservation.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

This shows the coupling as well. I thought they were a brilliant concept and design. British rail and ROYAL mail used them.

 

[OJCar]

This was the only photo of the IoM SP Co Ltd Scammell Scarabs that I could find.

 

[bourbon]

I borrowed a book off a mate of mine about these. You have reminded me. I must find it and return it to him.

 

[500e]

BRS used them as well

 

[minimutly]

Did you take any pics please?

 

[Bornfree]

looks very similar

 

[brightspark]

View attachment 377079

must be taking the hump thats where the saying comes from