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BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833)<br />
Pic: PhilYeomans/BNPS<br />
<br />
Phil and his team make the most of the fluctuating winds across the Midland Railway near Butterley in Derbyshire.<br />
<br />
To Hull and back...eccentric Inventor Phil Mathison has recreated the almost forgotten 'Spurn Landship'.<br />
<br />
Railway enthusiast Phil Mathison, 68, has researched and rebuilt the sail powered Spurn Landship, which once ferried people out along the windswept Spurn Peninsula east of Hull between the wars.<br />
<br />
The original 13 ft landship, made up of a large sail mounted on a wheeled trolley (bogie), could travel at a hair-raising 40mph. <br />
<br />
Mr Mathison, a retired economist, has been assisted on the four year project by his wife Mary, 68, and their Norwegian friend Torkel Larsen, 51. The trio have dubbed themselves the 'Spurnfleet Command' and wear astronaut-like uniforms.<br />
<br />
Despite exhaustive trials Phil and his team have only attained a top speed of 6mph so far, mainly due to fluctuating wind conditions on the test track in Derbyshire.

BNPS.co.uk (01202 558833)
Pic: PhilYeomans/BNPS

Phil and his team make the most of the fluctuating winds across the Midland Railway near Butterley in Derbyshire.

To Hull and back...eccentric Inventor Phil Mathison has recreated the almost forgotten 'Spurn Landship'.

Railway enthusiast Phil Mathison, 68, has researched and rebuilt the sail powered Spurn Landship, which once ferried people out along the windswept Spurn Peninsula east of Hull between the wars.

The original 13 ft landship, made up of a large sail mounted on a wheeled trolley (bogie), could travel at a hair-raising 40mph.

Mr Mathison, a retired economist, has been assisted on the four year project by his wife Mary, 68, and their Norwegian friend Torkel Larsen, 51. The trio have dubbed themselves the 'Spurnfleet Command' and wear astronaut-like uniforms.

Despite exhaustive trials Phil and his team have only attained a top speed of 6mph so far, mainly due to fluctuating wind conditions on the test track in Derbyshire.