Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co.

Not to be confused with Yorkshire Engine Company.

A Working "Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon" at Harewood House steam fair

The Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co. was a steam wagon manufacturer in Leeds, England. They produced their first wagon in 1901. Their designs had a novel double-ended transverse boiler. In 1911 the company's name was changed to Yorkshire Commercial Motor Co., but reverted to Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co. in 1922. Steam wagon production ceased in 1937, and the company was finally dissolved in 1993.

Other local steam vehicle manufacturers were John Fowler & Co., J&H McLaren & Co., and the Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Company, along with several steam railway engine builders.

Double-ended boiler

Yorkshire steam wagon double-ended boiler

The novel double-ended transverse-mounted boiler was used to avoid problems of tilting when climbing hills. Internally it resembled a locomotive or Fairlie boiler with a central firebox and multiple fire-tubes to each end. In the Yorkshire though, a second bank of fire-tubes above returned to a central smokebox and a single chimney.

Preserved machines

The manufacturer's plate on a preserved steam wagon

There are 10 known preserved machines recorded. Several of these were restored by the late Tom Varley.

See also

• L&YR railmotors, Kerr Stuart steam railmotors with a similar boiler design

External links

• The Yorkshire wagon page about the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co