The Scammell Mountaineer is type of dump truck built by the truck manufacturer, Scammell in 1949.
History[]
Scammell 's successful operational track record during the Second World War with its military-grade predecessor, the 6X4 "Pioneer" model proved that the solidly-built vehicle was versa tile and able to roll over all manner of uneven and rough terrain from sand, to mud and rock. The "Pioneer" was redesigned in 1949/50 for commercial use and rebranded as the "Mountaineer" model. The redesign included a 4-wheel-drive chassis, larger engine, air-pressure assisted power steering and higher maximum speed. It lost one set of rear axles that was common with the Pioneer model, becoming a two axle vehicle equipped with 11 x 24 inch tires - single at the front, and double on the rear axle. The front width of the Mountaineer was about 8 feet 8 inches, and a ground-to-top-of-cab height of 9 feet, 3 inches. Early models were used by the Shell Petroleum Company for oil field set-up and maintenance. The "Mountaineer" was marketed by Scammell until 1955, and continued when the company was bought out by Hotchkiss-Leyland until the 1960s. There were some "Mountaineer" physical and cosmetic design changes introduced since its 1949 introduction, noticeably with the front fenders being replaced with more robust versions
Biography[]
The "Mountaineer" was designed for varied purposes from towing to hauling, with the model available in 14, 17 or 19 foot wheelbase. For Max and Monty, it will be the 14 foot wheelbase with an 18-20 ton gross-load dumper. The tipper version of a loaded Mountaineer had an average top speed of about 34.3 kph (21.3 mph), which is considerably fast for that weight of vehicle.
In Fiction[]
The "Mountaineer" dump truck was used for Max and Monty in Thomas & Friends.
Gallery[]
