Other Uses

[SouthernR]

They look very odd. Single ended, fixed to the gate, the link connecting them spanning the waterway, and running on pneumatic tyres on a concrete surface. I wonder if they were built specially?

Wikipedia refers to "ex-railway locomotives", but this could easily be a poor translation of a modified railway locomotive design.
The lift has now been given the visitor experience and dazzle camouflage treatment.
See https://simonszand.net/Pente d eau Montech.html
A Google translation of the webpage gives some strange results, e.g. "boat swallowing".

 

[contrex]

Wikipedia refers to "ex-railway locomotives", but this could easily be a poor translation of a modified railway locomotive design.
The lift has now been given the visitor experience and dazzle camouflage treatment.
See https://simonszand.net/Pente d eau Montech.html
A Google translation of the webpage gives some strange results, e.g. "boat swallowing".

Yes, the main meaning of the verb 'avaler' is 'to swallow' e.g. food, but it can also mean to go down or descend. In connection with canal boats, 'un bateau avalant' is one which is passing a lock in the downwards direction. The opposite is 'un bateau montant'. Computer translators are rubbish at specialised usages.

 

[OVS Flatbottom]

Wikipedia refers to "ex-railway locomotives", but this could easily be a poor translation of a modified railway locomotive design.

There is some discussion (in French) at https://www.trainsdumidi.com/t15632-montech-l-historique-et-l-export-detourne and https://www.trainsdumidi.com/t8101-plan-incline-de-montech. Apparently they were built new by Soulé (https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulé) for use at Montech, but possibly derived from railcars designed for the Ethio-Djibouti Railway (at least as far as the bodyshells are concerned).

 

[Gloster]

A look at both the French and German Wikipedia pages reveals no hint that they were previously locos. As they appear to have rubber tyres they might be considered as guided tractors, or tractor as they are linked.

 

[Matey]

I believe a locomotive was parked somewhere in Wales as gunnery target by the RAF during WWII. It was painted white to avoid any mistakes.

 

[Benters]

I believe a locomotive was parked somewhere in Wales as gunnery target by the RAF during WWII. It was painted white to avoid any mistakes.

I'm surprised a fair old number of Pacers haven't been repurposed for target practice by the RAF/Army (yet), given their unpopularity with some enthusiasts and the public in general...

 

[thesignalman]

The Panama Canal uses locos alongside some of the locks to help ships enter and egress.

These are not railway locomotives but perhaps better-described as "tugs on rails":
http://www.traveladventures.org/continents/americas/miraflores-locks-panama-canal04.html

John