A Bissel truck (also: Bissell truck or Bissel bogie) is a very simple and commonly used way of designing a carrying axle on a steam locomotive to enable it to negotiate curves more easily. The design uses a single-axled bogie, usually known as a pony truck, whose pivot is towards the centre of the locomotive. As a result, the Bissell axle is not only able to turn about its vertical axis, but also to swing radially to the side, something which is necessary on steam locomotives because their position on the track is dictated by the driving or coupled wheels.
The [pony] truck can move radially around a real or virtual pivot. When the pivot is situated at a point inside the truck, the truck is called a bogie. What makes it a Bissel bogie is the pivot being placed outside to the rear or fore.[1][2]
The Bissel bogie was invented in 1857 by Levi Bissell.[3]
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Examples of steam engines fitted with Bissell trucks include the German DRG Class 64 and Class 99.73-76 locomotives.
Even some older electric locomotives have Bissell trucks, if the driving axles are located in the main frame rather than the now usual bogies.
A British example was the London and North Western Railway 0-4-2 tank locomotive which was known as a "Bissell tank" or "Bissell truck tank".[4] It was also used on the South African Class 4E electric and Class 32-000 and 32-200 diesel-electric locomotives.
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