"Clayton" Steam Motor Wagon

History

Clayton & Shuttleworth Ltd produced their first overtype steam wagon at the end of 1912. They were built as either a 3 or 5 ton model. A 6/7 ton model was introduced later. Body styles varied with tipping (end and side tipping), platform and those suitable for a brewery.

It was claimed the “Clayton” steam wagon was “practically noiseless” as they had a balanced compound engine, a silencer fitted in the end of the exhaust pipe in the smokebox and quiet machine cut gears. The engines were able to be taken out of compound and have both cylinders running with boiler pressure steam for hill starts and starting off with a full load, before being put back into compound.

During WWI, the company produced 250 for the Ministry of Munitions.

About this exhibit

"Clayton” Steam Motor Wagon no. 48510, registration FE3344, is a 5 ton wagon that was sent out of the Clayton & Shuttleworth works on the 19th May 1920. It was purchased new by Westmorland County Council with a 5 ton end tipping body.

In 1934 it was sold to Taroads Ltd., London, and converted into a tar sprayer. It was sold in 1948 to the scrap merchants J W. Hardwick & Sons, West Ewell, Surrey. Purchased for preservation in 1967 by Stan Burgess, Haddenham, the tar spaying apparatus was removed, it was fully restored and named “The Fenland Princess”. Passing through several owners including J. W. Hardwick again, it was sold in 1994 to David Scott. Purchased by the Shuttleworth Trust in December 2025.

Specification