Trucking Magazine – August 2019

http://www.truckingmag.co.uk August 2019 TRUCKING 81

anti-aircraft artillery batteries. Thanks
to their electric driveline, the Tilling-
Stevens three-tonners operated as
mobile generators.
Peter Chamberlain’s second vehicle
was in even worse condition than its
stablemate. Significantly, it was the
last of 416 Tilling-Stevens searchlight

trucks built in the late 1930s. When

acquired, it had an AEC engine, but this

is being replaced by a Tilling-Stevens

petrol engine that Peter has succeeded

in locating. Probably only four other

Tilling-Stevens trucks survive.

Another reminder of the genius of

Tilling-Stevens was the appearance at

The original Tilling-Stevens petrol engine had been

replaced by a Gardner 4KL with circa 55 bhp.

This superb F88 was one of a fleet conveyed on

six low-loaders that turned up from Ireland, taking

the delighted organisers by complete surprise

Back to the future: Peter

Chamberlain’s pristine diesel-

electric hybrid Tilling-Stevens

ex-WWII searchlight truck

ABOVE The Tilling-Stevens’ Gardner 4LK diesel powers

an electric dynamo/motor driveline via propshaft to the

back-axle’s diff

Kelsall of a number of TS3 opposed-

piston two-stroke diesel-powered

Commers. ‘TS’ reflects the fact that

Tilling-Stevens designed the engine,

and in 1950 became part of Commer’s

parent Rootes group.

Not just local heroes

Understandably, hundreds of vehicles

at Kelsall habitually reflect the

North West’s position as the former

stronghold of Atkinson, ERF, Foden,

Gardner, Leyland, Seddon and Seddon-

Atkinson. But AECs, Scammells,

Bedfords and others were out in

force – including more Volvo, Scania