AEC Road Train was built for Australia by the British (Leyland Motors together with Associated Equipment Company (AEC)) from 1930 until 1934. It was part of a British scheme of making heavy transportation available in remote regions in it's colonies.
Before automobiles, "outback" (ie central) Australia used horse-drawn drays else Afghan cameleers with their camels. The AEC Road Train consisted of an eight-wheel drive tractor with two eight-wheeled trailers. For good maneuverability the first and last axles on the tractor steered in opposite directions and the trailers were self-tracking, enabling all the wheels to use the same set of wheel-tracks.
Designer: British Overseas Mechanical Transport Committee
Truck: 8-wheel x 8-wheel plus 2x eight-wheeled trailers
Width: 2.3m Length: 21.8m
Wheelbase: 4.27m Track: 1.8m approx.
Turning radius: 9m Unladen weight: 8,000kg
Engine: AEC 6-cylinder diesel, 8.85 litre, 97kw (130ph)
Transmission: 4-speed manual, 3-speed transfer case
Steering: first & fourth axles steer in opposite directions
Suspension: live axles, leaf springs
Brakes: strongest at rear, decreasing in power to front
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Transport the old way.
National Library of Australia
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15/10/1929 The Queensland Motorist
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Northern Territory Information Service
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The original Road Train used in Central Australia by the
Department of the Interior was an AEC Diesel and,
as seen towed three or four short-wheelbase trailers
November 1948 Truck and Bus Transportation (1932) |
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| 1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs (2013) |
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1932-1948 The AEC Road Train - Northern Territory, Australia
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Australian War Memorial
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| 3/4/1934 The Advertiser |
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12/4/1934 The Advertiser
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| 3/5/1935 Engineering |
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| 3/5/1935 Engineering |
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| 3/5/1935 Engineering |
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| 28/9/1937 correspondence Commissioner to Minister for the Interior |
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| 28/9/1937 correspondence Commissioner to Minister for the Interior |
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| 2911/1937 correspondence |
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Best of Old Cars #5
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| Best of Old Cars #5 |
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| Best Of Old Cars #5 |
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1932 A.E.C. Government Roadtrain by Liz Martin (1995)
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29/4/1995 The Advertiser
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| 30/7/1999 Oral History interview of Max Shrowder by Ivan Hoffmann |
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30/7/1999 Oral History interview of Max Shrowder by Ivan Hoffmann
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Also see Northern Territory Transport Overview 2002
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From Wagon Tracks to Bitumen by Douglas Wells (2005)
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From Wagon Tracks to Bitumen by Douglas Wells (2005)
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| March-June 2009 Eaton |
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| March-June 2009 Eaton |
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| March-June 2009 Eaton |
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| March-June 2009 Eaton |
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| March-June 2009 Eaton |
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| March-June 2009 Eaton |
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| March-June 2009 Eaton |
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| March-June 2009 Eaton |
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March-June 2009 Eaton
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| March-June 2009 Eaton |
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March-June 2009 Eaton
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| Classic Truck |
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| Classic Truck |
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| Classic Truck |
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| Classic Truck |
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1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs
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1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs
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1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs
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1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs
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1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs
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1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs
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1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs
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1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs
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1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs
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1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs
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1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs
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1934 AEC Road Train at National Transport Museum, Alice Springs
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A History of Road Trains in the Northern Territory 1934-1988 by John Maddock
Government Road Train - The Old and the Bold |
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A History of Road Trains in the Northern Territory 1934-1988 by John Maddock
Government Road Train - The Old and the Bold |
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A History of Road Trains in the Northern Territory 1934-1988 by John Maddock
Government Road Train - The Old and the Bold |
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A History of Road Trains in the Northern Territory 1934-1988 by John Maddock
Government Road Train - The Old and the Bold |
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A History of Road Trains in the Northern Territory 1934-1988 by John Maddock
Government Road Train - The Old and the Bold |
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A History of Road Trains in the Northern Territory 1934-1988 by John Maddock
Government Road Train - The Old and the Bold |
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A History of Road Trains in the Northern Territory 1934-1988 by John Maddock
Government Road Train - The Old and the Bold |
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A History of Road Trains in the Northern Territory 1934-1988 by John Maddock
Government Road Train - The Old and the Bold |
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A History of Road Trains in the Northern Territory 1934-1988 by John Maddock
Government Road Train - The Old and the Bold |
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| A History of Road Trains in the Northern Territory 1934-1988 by John Maddock
Government Road Train - The Old and the Bold |
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A History of Road Trains in the Northern Territory 1934-1988 by John Maddock
Government Road Train - The Old and the Bold |
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A History of Road Trains in the Northern Territory 1934-1988 by John Maddock
Government Road Train - The Old and the Bold |
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| 2012 Early Road Train to Bordertown by Jeff Holly |
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2012 Early Road Train to Bordertown by Jeff Holly
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July-October 2019 Eaton
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