Ellis Clark Trains E1018

Class & Prototype

The Wickham trolley was a revolutionary railway maintenance vehicle produced by D. Wickham & Co of Ware, Hertfordshire from 1922-1990. Nearly 12,000 vehicles were built across multiple variants, making it one of the longest production runs in railway history. These compact, reliable vehicles transformed British railway maintenance from manual labour to mechanised efficiency, serving permanent way gangs for track inspection and repair work. The most successful variant was the Type 27 series, with over 600 built for British Railways between 1948-1990. Powered initially by JAP engines and later Ford automotive units, they featured innovative friction drive systems and could transport 8-10 crew members plus equipment via trailers. Many survive in preservation on heritage railways, whilst detailed scale models are available from manufacturers including Bachmann (OO gauge) and Ellis Clark Trains (O gauge). Their 68-year production span and global service from Chile to Malaysia demonstrated the enduring value of practical engineering over fashionable innovation.

No prototype found.

Operator & Livery