Reference
X728
Title
Records of the Motor Rail & Tram Car Co. Ltd., the Petrol Loco Hire Company , and the Low Loading Trailer Company Ltd., deposited by the Simplex Mechanical Handling Co. Ltd., Simplex Works, Elstow Road, Bedford MK42 9LB.
Date free text
1911-1987
Production date
From: 1911 To: 1987
Scope and Content
The Motor Rail & Tram Car Company Ltd. was established in 1910-11. By 1992 the firm had moved to premises in Elstow Road, formerly used as a laundry, which became known as the Simplex Works. The words "& Tram Car Co. Ltd." were dropped from the firm's title in the 1930s but the business continued to be known as Motor Rail Ltd until 1971/2. The original business changed hands several times and it was eventually taken over by the Low Loading Trailer Company (Bedford) which used the original Motor Rail trademark "Simplex" in its name when the company adopted the new name of "Simplex Mechanical Handling Ltd." in 1971/2. The records were transferred to the County Record Office during the winding up of the company and the closure of the works in 1987.
Alan Keef Limited of Lea Line, near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire HR9 7LQ purchased the locomotive, the goodwill and the engineering drawings when Motor Rail closed around July 1987. They now have the drawings on microfilm along with locomotive records from about 1935.
Level of description
fonds