The roadrailer was running trials on the east coast main line when a coupling broke, this didn't help it's cause. Freightliner took a while to become operational due to 2 factors Firstly the BR unions wouldn't agree to private transport firms coming into Freightliner yards to deliver or collect containers, also BR wanted the guards to ride in the rear cab of the locomotive, BR unions were against that as well.
The French experimented with the "Kangaroo" wagon system, where the truck reversed its trailer into a special4 wheeled carrying wagon frame. This wagon could be coupled up into normal freight trains. Jouef made a working model of this, in HO, back in the late 1960's. The Freightliner container system also killed off the French "Kangaroo" trailer carrying wagon system, too.
The Kangaroo or Piggyback wagon is still in use today, just not in its original form. Specialised wagons are used which can carry semi trailers including its wheels which sit in a pocket between the frame rails of the wagon, these wagons can also take ISO containers. On the European continent these are known as Modalohr and Hupac wagons, two of the companies who own such wagons. Because of the more limited loading gauge in the UK they can only run via the channel tunnel to Dollands Moor but not elsewhere in the UK.
I remember a Piggyback type of wagon introduced by ‘Petfoods’, in their dogfood factory in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. Meat (substandard, unfit for human consumption) would arrive at Melton Mowbray sidings by rail. These wagons could then be coupled onto a road going Artic Tractor Unit, and taken the short distance to the pet food factory. This was about 1991. It only seemed to last a few years though. Not sure why it had such a short life.
When I saw his post, I thought it was an advert for Triang's Minic Motorways Roadrailer... which worked quite nicely I am lead to believe. It was a good idea, pity it wasn't expanded on.
Also to mention as a drawback is the heavy railway axle which is just dead weight in road use. Other systems where separate railway trucks are added between the trailers are better regarding dead weight.
You beat me to it... just about to mention the same thing.😊 The Triang/Minic system was ahead of its time. And those Roadrailer models go for hefty prices these days. Both my systems are still working some 60+years later.
@@TechnoJonny - I have a feeling that it was either Ratio or Peco who made the models. I have most of the Kitmaster/Airfix/Dapol railway kits, and don't ever recall seeing a RoadRailer kit.
