Leyland Landtrain
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The Leyland Landtrain was a truck that was produced in the 1980s by
), 30 t (30 long tons; 33 short tons) and 36 t (35 long tons; 40 short tons)The Landtrain was produced as both a two-axle 4x2 and a three-axle 6x4 rigid and a 6x4 tractor. The truck was produced in the Leyland plant in Wolverhampton between 1980 and 1982, when production moved to Bathgate, and then finally to Watford in 1984. Kits were exported from these plants to Leyland factories in Yizhu, Taiwan; Ibadan, Nigeria; and Thika, Kenya; where they were assembled. The truck ceased production in 1987 after the merger of Leyland with the Dutch company DAF.
Design and development
Given the project designation of T129, the Landtrain was introduced by
The truck was a bonneted design optimised for operating over poor roads for long distances, where refuelling and servicing facilities were infrequent. To that end, an easy to maintain and robust design was preferred over cutting-edge technology, the chassis was of a straightforward and strong channel section ladder type and fuel tankage could be up to 700
In its three-axle form, the truck was available as a rigid, a tipper and a tractor. As a rigid or tipper, it was 9,337 mm (367.6 in) long, 2,478 mm (97.6 in) wide and 2,780 mm (109.4 in) high, to the top of the cab, with a wheelbase of 5,680 mm (223.6 in).[5] The truck had a GVW that varied between 19 and 36 t (19 and 35 long tons; 21 and 40 short tons).[7] The tractor had a shorter wheelbase of 4,770 mm (187.8 in) and a length of 7,174 mm (282.4 in). Rated gross combined weight (GCW) of the tractor was 65 t (64 long tons; 72 short tons), but an additional trailer could be mounted behind the semi-trailer, where regulations permitted, to create a land train with even more capability.[8]
Power and transmission
The truck was initially powered by a range of four different
Different gearboxes were used depending on the engine fitted. The L12 was matched to the six-speed Eaton 0403 gearbox with overdrive, while the nine-speed Fuller RT09509A or B range-change was used with the TL12 and NHC250. Both were
Power was transmitted to the wheels in the two axle version through a hub reduction design derived from that used in the Marathon, rated at 13 tonnes (13 long tons; 14 short tons). The three axle version had double reduction to both rear axles. The axles were each rated at 6.5 t (6.4 long tons; 7.2 short tons). The three-seat cab was simple and was not fitted with air conditioning or other modern conveniences.[6]
Production
Initially, the Landtrain was produced at the Guy Motors factory in Wolverhampton. Production was expected to be 1000 vehicles a year.[9] Production subsequently moved to the plant in Bathgate in August 1982, which led to the closure of the Wolverhampton plant.[10] Subsequently, when the Bathgate plant closed in June 1984, production was moved to the Scammell plant in Watford.[11] In addition to complete trucks, the plants produced Complete Knock-Down (CKD) kits. These were partially completed vehicles which were exported widely to be assembled locally into vehicles.[12] The Leyland plant in Thika, Kenya, and Ibadan, Nigeria were two of the main plants to receive CKDs.[13] Vehicles were produced with combinations of engine power and GVW as 19–24, 19–29, 30–24, 30–29, 36-24 and 36–29. These designations were inscribed on the cab door.[7]
The trucks were popular in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
In February 1987, Leyland merged with the Dutch firm DAF Trucks to form Leyland DAF. Bonneted trucks were dropped from the range and production of the Landtrain stopped following the merger.[17]
References
Citations
- ^ Philips, p. 33.
- ^ Brock 1980, p. 21.
- ^ Philips, pp. 33–34.
- ^ Godwin 1980, p. 34.
- ^ a b c Georgano 1983, p. 137.
- ^ a b c d Brock 1980, p. 22.
- ^ a b Philips, p. 34.
- ^ a b c Georgano 1983, p. 251.
- ^ a b c Blakemore 1980, p. 23.
- ^ Peck 2012, p. 35.
- ^ Millar 1984, p. 4.
- ^ Whisler 1999, p. 274.
- ^ "News". Commercial Motor. 152 (3878): 4. 1980.
- ^ "Landtrains for Sudan". Africa. 171: 81. December 1985.
- ^ Forbes 2017, p. 85.
- ^ The Hawk 1981, p. 29.
- ^ Morrison 1992, p. 11.
Bibliography
- Blakemore, Tim (1980). "Leyland's Landtrain is built for action". Commercial Motor. 151 (3844): 23.
- Brock, Bill (1980). "Landtrain just keeps on rolling along". Commercial Motor. 152 (3875): 21–23.
- Davies, Peter J. (2001). An Illustrated A-Z of World Trucks. London: Southwater. ISBN 978-1-84215-459-5.
- Forbes, Mike (2017). Tipping the Balance: A Pictorial History of Tipper Trucks Through the Decades. Cudham: Kelsey Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-91055-469-2.
- Georgano, Nick (1983). World Truck Handbook. London: Jane's. ISBN 978-0-71060-215-2.
- Godwin, Bill (1980). "Swiss go on heavy spending spree". Commercial Motor. 151 (3844): 34–35.
- Millar, Alan (1984). "Bathgate: The End". Commercial Motor. 160 (4070): 4.
- Morrison, Murdo (1992). "Western Star rises to the East". Commercial Motor. 175 (4475): 11.
- Peck, Colin (2012). British and European Trucks of the 1970s. Dorchester: Veloce. ISBN 978-1-84584-415-8.
- Philips, Ron. "Leyland Overseas: The Last Export Range". Leyland Torque (24): 32–36.
- The Hawk (1981). "Birds Eye View". Commercial Motor. 153 (3905): 29.
- Whisler, T (1999). The British Motor Industry, 1945-1994: A Case Study in Industrial Decline. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19829-074-2.