Federal 604

[welbike]

Older thread, but interesting, how many were made?, I was asked this morning.

One surfaced in the Netherlands, so the owners said, have not seen it yet.

Cheers,

Lex

[Don Smith]

If I remember correctly, about 1,500 of the type were produced by Federal and Reo.

[drcowie]

Federal 604 (x2) recovered from Bundaberg, Qld many years ago !

[Brent Delaney]

Thats just beautiful, note the M816 in front now thats class.

[Brent Delaney]

Got to remember they are only rated as a 20 ton tank transporter Gordon.

I think the Valentine was there limit on a combination using the single row of eight semi trailer.

[phoenix]

Gordon, from what I can tell they were used in pretty small numbers here (I think australia had 24 delivered), as for the how and why vs other equipment, federal was a reasonably small company, I don't know what their production output was like. No idea how it stacked up either, but gearing wise I think in stock form the max speed was only about 30 mph.

[Brent Delaney]

They had 10.27:1 ratio diffs, commonly called the million milers
There top speed was limited for this reason.

[Les Freathy]

Some good info on the Federal in this thread in particular i like the coloured shots in Vietnam

Two shots here the first shows the tractor and trailer on evaluation in the U.S the second a demobbed tractor with a heavier rated civvy trailer in Tasmania around 1970. The contractor is a M.J Tate earthmoving contractor
Les

[Les Freathy]

2nd

[phoenix]

Isn't fate a fickle thing

Les, that second pic of the vehicle in tasmania is the very vehicle that Geoff is restoring. It had an extra axle added some time after that, and they used it to tow a couple of very large dozers around.

Don't supose you have any more photos of the tasmanian one?

[phoenix]

I just found this old thread with some federal information and images.

http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...?threadid=1533

So what is the relation between the Reo 28XS and the Federal 604? Same vehicle with 2 makers or is there more differences?

[cliff]

Originally posted by phoenix


So what is the relation between the Reo 28XS and the Federal 604? Same vehicle with 2 makers or is there more differences?

They were built to the same specifications similar to the way the GMC-CCKW and Studebaker US6 were built to the same specifications.

Same truck but minor different looks and makers/names.

Cheers
Cliff

[Lang]

I think you will find the Federal 604 was quite different to the Federal 605-606/Reo 29XS ? The 604 is often confused with the Diamond T tank transporter (in fact I seem to recall Centurians being hauled around by convoys of mixed Federals and Diamond T's back in the early 60's). Maybe some ex tanky or transport fellow can confirm that.

Shephard Transport in Queensland had a fleet of both Federal and Diamond T in the early 60's carting mineral sand bags from Southport to Brisbane (All day for a 150km return trip)

I have owned a Federal 606 and it is a HUGE vehicle - much bigger external dimensions than the 604. Distinguishable by the extreme height, flat front radiator and especially the air suspension units sticking up on the front bumper.

My 606 was an ex airforce (RAAF/USAAC?) recovery crane. It had been re-engined with a 671 GM and was an absolute delight to drive. Steering was fingertip control and your mother-in-law could change gears without crashing. Needed a football field to turn around in, first gear was under 1/2mph but it got along as fast as a GMC in top. Cab(hard top) was so wide a passenger could easily sit outside! the driver. Wish I still had it.

Lang

[Lang]

Further to 604/606 comparison you can see both clearly above in Cliff's photo of the camo RAAF semi and the transporter above. Note how much more massive is the front axle on the 606, larger wheels etc.

Lang

[Steve Guthrie]

Hi there

This photo is from the book 'A Soldier's View'. It shows a 604 and 20-ton trailer issued to 3rd Field Park Coy, RCE in Normandy.

Notice the placement of the markings on both the tool box and the rear of the cab near the roof.

Steve

[Lang]

Photo of my Federal 606 about 1983. Fellow in photo is over 6 feet tall!

Lang

[Lang]

Photo 2

[Lang]

For a size comparison beside a Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton and a Blitz.

Lang

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Restored Federal 606 Wrecker at the Overloon Museum, The Netherlands. Awesome truck!


(click here to see large size scan)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Unrestored Federal 606 in Denmark or Sweden, not sure of it.
Source: http://www.dmkf.dk/gallerier/Sherman_M74/forside.htm

[phoenix]

Maybe we need to split off the federal 606 replies into a new thread about them

[Lang]

Hanno,

Just received the magazine with the nice Federal 606 article and photos. Thanks for that.

Lang

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Lang
Just received the magazine with the nice Federal 606 article and photos. Thanks for that.

Lang,

My pleasure!

Hanno

[Al Nickolson]

Hi Steve Guthrie,

Regarding the photo from the book 'A Soldier's View'. I found the same photo in my uncles photo album. Small world! I've attached another photo that appears to have been taken at the same time.

Al

[Noel Burgess]

Just got a copy of "Breakdown" by Brian Baxter (REME Museum) on loan from my local Library - in this he states that 604/Trailmobile combinations were sent to Egypt in 1941 or 1942 (quoting from memory - at work right now) as Tank Transporters because of the shortage of same but were not well regarded as the payload was too small. Also states that some units had a 15cwt body fixed on the swan neck for tool storage - so this was before they were supplied with tool boxes there.

So they were used by the British........?

But were they used by the British in NW Europe? this thread seems to imply that only the Canadians used them (as Engineer Equipment carriers) in '44 and '45

[Burts.22]

Thank you all for the wonderfull reading on this forum!
I finally registrated, here is my first contribution to this subject, allthough it is not a Federal 604 but a 606.

Best regards,
Burts.22

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Burts.22
Thank you all for the wonderfull reading on this forum!
I finally registrated, here is my first contribution to this subject, allthough it is not a Federal 604 but a 606.

Burts.22, welcome to this forum and thanks for contributing a picture.

But, please use your real name here. We are a friendly bunch and like to know who we are dealing with in real life.

Thanks!

Hanno

[Burts.22]

Hello Hanno, thank you for your welcome!
My name is Bertus Land, I live in Huizen, in Holland.
I am 51 years old and a project-engineer by trade and I am working for the world-leader in pumps and pump controls.
I have a wife and a son of 10 years old.

I have a background with ex-military vehicles because the company were my father worked for more than 30 years made use of ex-US military vehicles untill appr. 1980 and even later.


Because of the link with the Federal 604/606 I thought, well OK, I worked on them, even ride with it!
Let's contribute, I have been visiting this forum at least a year and enjoying it.

With best regards,
Burts.22

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Burts.22
I have a background with ex-military vehicles because the company were my father worked for more than 30 years made use of ex-US military vehicles untill appr. 1980 and even later.

That's interesting to hear, Bertus. Is the Federal one of those trucks? Any more pics you can share with us?

Thanks,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Lang
Just received the magazine with the nice Federal 606 article and photos.

Lang, I think this is the same Federal 606, pictured at Beltring in 2002 (source).

H.