Atlas

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ATLAS

ROAD/RAIL EXCAVATOR

Atlas
Manufacturer Atlas
Built 1979
Company NIR
Preservation 2009

 

 

 

This 2-seater machine is one of the original two purchased by NIR.

They were among the early 360º road/rail machines introduced on any British or Irish railway.

The Atlas Road/Rail machine is a type 1304 KZW with a 4 Litre Deutz turbo charged, air-cooled engine of 4 litres capacity and rated at 96 bhp. All drive is via the AWE4 road/rail system which controls the level of the rail wheels through sophisticated hydraulics, always trying to maintain maximum rail adhesion.

The rail wheels can be lifted to allow the machine to work off rail. The Atlas can therefore carry out several functions, including shunting, excavation and lifting, with the jib at full extension being rated at one tonne.
 
Since its acquisition by the RPSI, the Atlas machine has been a key piece of plant at Whitehead, involved in numerous
pieces of track work. moving rolling stock and shifting heavy items about the yard.
24/4/1994: Atlas YXI 4405 in new York Road Depot. On the left is the diesel shed and on the right is the running shed. (C.P. Friel)
17/9/1995: The Atlas helping to lay the new Central Junction. (C.P. Friel)
13/4/2009: The Atlas at Whitehead shortly after arriving from NIR.
5/10/2009: The road and rail wheels detail. (C.P. Friel)
22/7/2010: To make the digger even more useful a trailer was fabricated from a redundant Mk2 bogie. Denis Campbell and Dermot Marckie are painting it. (C.P. Friel)
1/8/2010: The Atlas and its dedicated trailer. (C.P. Friel)
1/8/2010: The Atlas with its trailer in use.
1/8/2010: The Atlas shunting its trailer-load of Mk2 carriage doors, overseen by Phillip Newell.
7/11/2012: The makers plate. (C.P. Friel)
18/4/2013: Helping to excavate the new Larne siding, The plate floor has suffered a few dents!
14/11/2013: Resleepering a turnout at Whitehead. (C.P. Friel)
27/1/2015: Four generations (just about) of lifting vehicles at Whitehead - Atlas, JCB Loadall, Muir-Hill loader and JCB. (C.P. Friel)
27/1/2015: The Atlas shunting carriages, with Dermot Mackie driving. (C.P. Friel)
29/10/2016: A bird's eye view from from the shear legs. (J.J. Friel)
8/9/2022: The Atlas shunting No.3BG from No.2 road. (C.P. Friel)
1/10/2022: The Atlas at rest, with its security shutters in place.
1/11/2022: The Atlas was first registered on 1st November 1992 so it was felt in order to celebrate its 30th birthday with a cake. (D. Mackie)

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