I’ve only been on here since last September Ted, please feel free to repeat earlier pearls of wisdom, some of us won’t have read them, and even if we have, they may well be worth repeating when relevant to the subject matter.
I think Robert’s contribution to Merlin’s Trans Arabia thread is a case in point - I hadn’t seen many of those photos and contributions on the ERF thread.
I’ve also enjoyed reading Bewick’s thread and I’m sure that as one memory nudges another more interesting stuff will come forth.
John.
Dennis,
A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM AS I SEE IT IS THAT A LOT OF MEMBERS HERE ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO FIND THE 8XLB 240 SAT IN A BIG J CHASSIS 
, AT SOME POINT THE MYSTERY WILL GET SOLVED AND ALL WILL FLOCK BACK IN HERE ONCE AGAIN… 
E.W.
Dave the Renegade:
Carryfast is fully occupied giving advice to all and sundry on Bully’s Truckstop Bar Forum concerning the 2015 Election Exit Poll . Long may it keep him occupied. 
Is that the Guy that Insisted that Petrol is explosive ? because it is on make believe TV and films ? he goes straight to Wikipedia to find support and knowledge , he says Detonation is explosion , when in fact Detonation is not normal in petrol engines and causes Pinking, Running on after switch off and uncorrected can blow a hole in a piston ! Sorry but I spent four years training on Petrols and another extra year on Diesel motors , some people just sit in the armchair jumping to the conclusion, look at ALL the British mags for Classic Lorries , writers put two and two and get five as the answer , Interesting I just got Pat Kennetts old book Leyland from World trucks series , some crap in that about Leyland Comets sold in Holland asMeteoors` and this was copied by Ingram and Edge later , so Like the schoolteacher ,I know this because ALL have the same wrong answer , so maybe Kennett was given wrong info ? or jumped to the conclusions.
Mr Kennet had probably forgotten more about lorries than most of us will ever know , what is your latest book called ? Regards Geoff
Lilladan:
Dave the Renegade:
Carryfast is fully occupied giving advice to all and sundry on Bully’s Truckstop Bar Forum concerning the 2015 Election Exit Poll . Long may it keep him occupied.
Is that the Guy that Insisted that Petrol is explosive ? because it is on make believe TV and films ? he goes straight to Wikipedia to find support and knowledge , he says Detonation is explosion , when in fact Detonation is not normal in petrol engines and causes Pinking, Running on after switch off and uncorrected can blow a hole in a piston ! Sorry but I spent four years training on Petrols and another extra year on Diesel motors , some people just sit in the armchair jumping to the conclusion, look at ALL the British mags for Classic Lorries , writers put two and two and get five as the answer , Interesting I just got Pat Kennetts old book Leyland from World trucks series , some crap in that about Leyland Comets sold in Holland asMeteoors` and this was copied by Ingram and Edge later , so Like the schoolteacher ,I know this because ALL have the same wrong answer , so maybe Kennett was given wrong info ? or jumped to the conclusions.
Lilladan, whoever you might be, I am EDGE, so if you want to be disrespectful and insulting to the very knowlegeable late Pat Kennett, Arthur Ingram and myself then that is your perogative and your choice. Perhaps you should visit the BCVM Archives at Leyland and correct the records and photographs that refer to Leyland Comets and Meteors. I’m sure that your input will be greatly appreciated.
Dosser, Lilladan and Gingerfold…Give it up lads, no need for that on this site on T.N.
Leave that to the modern steering wheel attendants on the other side , who can’t post one thread without wanting to slap each other with handbags…
I’m sure l speak for a lot of the guys on here, that we don’t need it. Good honest debate, with a sence of humour, is the order of the day, but let’s not get into the handbag stage, we’re all too old and tired for that…
Bewick:
It may just be my impression but at the risk of being ex-communicated do I detect that the this TN site is currently failing to attract the same level of interest it has done over previous years ? 
Bewick.
Interesting observation, so took a look at the analytics.
Every year we see a slight dip in site usage in March April May, this normally recovers by June. this trend can been seen by looking back over the last 10 years .
However this year the viewing figures for this forum are up on the same period last year (21st April- 21st May). there seems to be no decline in use of the forum, it may just be that that the moment the users are active on posts that you don’t normally use/read
Possibly part of the problem, if indeed there is a problem, is that there are a few (lots?) like me that have been driving for lorries a long time, 50 years this year in my case, but have mostly or never worked for a large national or international company so feel unqualified to comment on many threads. Added to that, to my eternal regret, is that I never bothered to take any photos plus many of the companies that I drove for are now long gone. I do add comments if I consider that they will add to the thread but rest assured that I (and I hope many other ‘lurkers’) are on the sidelines eagerly reading the exploits of others.
MrJake:
Possibly part of the problem, if indeed there is a problem, is that there are a few (lots?) like me that have been driving for lorries a long time, 50 years this year in my case, but have mostly or never worked for a large national or international company so feel unqualified to comment on many threads.
You’re right, many of us never got to go on an extended Middle East trip, the longest most of us did was London - Aberdeen and back via Aberystwyth. So while it can be entertaining to read the many ME threads, I lose interest after a bit because none of it is my direct experience. Ditto working for larger outfits, or driving certain types of wagon (esp. Fodens, ERFs, etc.)
MrJake:
Added to that, to my eternal regret, is that I never bothered to take any photos plus many of the companies that I drove for are now long gone.
You and me both. I did once have some prints of the wagons I was driving, but a family member “looked after” them by getting rid, along with half a garage full of other stuff of mine.
Lilladan:
Dave the Renegade:
Carryfast is fully occupied giving advice to all and sundry on Bully’s Truckstop Bar Forum concerning the 2015 Election Exit Poll . Long may it keep him occupied.
Is that the Guy that Insisted that Petrol is explosive ? because it is on make believe TV and films ? he goes straight to Wikipedia to find support and knowledge , he says Detonation is explosion , when in fact Detonation is not normal in petrol engines and causes Pinking, Running on after switch off and uncorrected can blow a hole in a piston ! Sorry but I spent four years training on Petrols and another extra year on Diesel motors , some people just sit in the armchair jumping to the conclusion, look at ALL the British mags for Classic Lorries , writers put two and two and get five as the answer , Interesting I just got Pat Kennetts old book Leyland from World trucks series , some crap in that about Leyland Comets sold in Holland asMeteoors` and this was copied by Ingram and Edge later , so Like the schoolteacher ,I know this because ALL have the same wrong answer , so maybe Kennett was given wrong info ? or jumped to the conclusions.
I`ve read books by both Pat Kennett and Graham Edge and found them very interesting and informative , both authors are well respected on here so could you expand on your comments please , I for one would be interested on your take
Lilladan:
Dave the Renegade:
Carryfast is fully occupied giving advice to all and sundry on Bully’s Truckstop Bar Forum concerning the 2015 Election Exit Poll . Long may it keep him occupied.
Is that the Guy that Insisted that Petrol is explosive ? because it is on make believe TV and films ? he goes straight to Wikipedia to find support and knowledge , he says Detonation is explosion , when in fact Detonation is not normal in petrol engines and causes Pinking, Running on after switch off and uncorrected can blow a hole in a piston ! Sorry but I spent four years training on Petrols and another extra year on Diesel motors , some people just sit in the armchair jumping to the conclusion, look at ALL the British mags for Classic Lorries , writers put two and two and get five as the answer , Interesting I just got Pat Kennetts old book Leyland from World trucks series , some crap in that about Leyland Comets sold in Holland asMeteoors` and this was copied by Ingram and Edge later , so Like the schoolteacher ,I know this because ALL have the same wrong answer , so maybe Kennett was given wrong info ? or jumped to the conclusions.
The following article was quoted from a Dutch publication, so it’s not just the British:
commercialmotor.com/big-lorr … dutch-with
The original author’s name, however, has a strong whiff of Leatherhead about it: 
Wim van Loon of Transmobiel truck & bus magazine
I think most of us on here would agree that the Kennett /Edge / Ingram trio have all made a serious contribution to road transport history, and given us a lasting legacy of meticulously researched material.
We have quickly strayed far from the original question, to which Rikki has given us a fair and thoughtful response.
We might, then conclude that the thread has run its natural course…
Robert
robert1952:
I think most of us on here would agree that the Kennett /Edge / Ingram trio have all made a serious contribution to road transport history, and given us a lasting legacy of meticulously researched material.
We have quickly strayed far from the original question, to which Rikki has given us a fair and thoughtful response.
We might, then conclude that the thread has run its natural course…
Robert
No. The original question and the thread title are irrelevant, once the discussion has started. So far, the thread has raised these subjects:
- Methods of gathering information to sustain the forum without too much repetition.
- The veracity of the research in established publications.
- Leyland vehicles exported to the Netherlands.
The thread will have run its course when no people wish to discuss those subjects, or any others which crop up along the way. The people who do want to discuss the subjects may do it here.
Lilladan:
Is that the Guy that Insisted that Petrol is explosive ? because it is on make believe TV and films ? he goes straight to Wikipedia to find support and knowledge , he says Detonation is explosion , when in fact Detonation is not normal in petrol engines and causes Pinking, Running on after switch off and uncorrected can blow a hole in a piston ! Sorry but I spent four years training on Petrols and another extra year on Diesel motors , some people just sit in the armchair jumping to the conclusion,
Yes that’s me.
Here’s just one of the scenarios in which petrol is an explosive while Buncefield oil terminal was another.
youtube.com/watch?v=UM0jtD_OWLU
While I ‘actually’ said that petrol will ‘detonate’ in an Internal Combustion Engine,‘without a spark’,given the ‘wrong’ ( too high ) level of compression ratio and/or the wrong spark ignition timing.I never said that detonation is ‘normal’ in petrol engines that’s because they don’t use diesel type levels of compression ratios and they use spark ‘ignition’ to ‘ignite’ the petrol,thereby stopping it ‘detonating’ under compression instead,especially in the case high compression ratios.
The fact is if you try to run a diesel engine,on petrol or LPG,without modifications to lower the compression ratio,it will more than likely just blow holes in the pistons.Not,as some think,do nothing because petrol is supposedly inert in an Internal Combustion Engine without a spark.So exactly how is any of that what I’ve said inconsistent with your own comments regarding ‘pinking’ etc.As for your 4/5 years ‘training’ on engines,let alone fire fighting,you’ve obviously learn’t as much as the idea that diesel engines can’t possibly run away on their own oil running into the inlet manifold. 
[zb]
anorak:
robert1952:
I think most of us on here would agree that the Kennett /Edge / Ingram trio have all made a serious contribution to road transport history, and given us a lasting legacy of meticulously researched material.
We have quickly strayed far from the original question, to which Rikki has given us a fair and thoughtful response.
We might, then conclude that the thread has run its natural course…
Robert
No. The original question and the thread title are irrelevant, once the discussion has started. So far, the thread has raised these subjects:
- Methods of gathering information to sustain the forum without too much repetition.
- The veracity of the research in established publications.
- Leyland vehicles exported to the Netherlands.
The thread will have run its course when no people wish to discuss those subjects, or any others which crop up along the way. The people who do want to discuss the subjects may do it here.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to give the impression that I wished abitrarily to close the thread!
With regard, then, to the first point. Two potentially opposing points of view have been expressed (among others) regarding the gathering together of information. On one hand, there is a preference for topics not to be multiply split into so many sub-groups; and on the other hand a preference for threads that don’t become too long.
The ERF European 1975 thread was a classic example. It was becoming quite long so a sub-thread called LHD ERF 5MWs was created so that we could better distinguish between the two. This then led to a snowball effect because all the other sub-groups of the subject ‘ERF European’ had to be given threads of their own in order follow suit. For a very small group that was fine but it made it difficult for new voices to enter because they have found it impossible to navigate the multitude of threads. It was at its most counter-productive when ‘E-R-F’ brought a large, dense quantity of useful material to the table and found that there were a dozen tables, not just one! Even the most dedicated among us ended up going round in circles on that occasion. However, it did prevent the original thread becoming as long as the Welsh one.
Perhaps one answer would be to create clusters of threads (ERF, Middle-East etc) but the problem with that is that strands run laterally across any titles we create (Middle-East ERFs for example). It’s a tricky subject. Robert
hiya i think we,ve run out of photos to post and comment on…we can say one thing… if TN did sort of fold
i don’t think it will. we have left a good amount of references and details for further generations to observe.
many comments which some people will smile on how the haulage industry operated and what the vehicles
was like to drive, i do know of a dozen photo,s that are of interest its just getting the chap to let me borrow
them…sorry to say they are ERF,s
John
GOOD evening all you many scholars, and gentlemen as my self relatively new to this site i for throughly enjoyed it, and hope to in the future ,yes change is a good thing however, how can you change what we all have done within the transport industry ,we cannot .
on HUMOROUS NOTE on another site i use “ships nostalgia” they have a very good forum called “sister elfe” basically it starts with members all join up as a crew
and different roles are taken on so it starts with men joining up as engineers ,officers, deck crew, catering etc ,then it just rolls on into humour,silliness, we could start with a site.anywhere,members can jump in and out whenever, following the last persons writing, to build up a fleet trucks,fitters ,office drivers ,ahh you know what i mean.
After spending half the day -day dreaming,i jumped out of my old themes trader four wheeler,glad i have finished for the day ,and thought ,do you know what i could do better my self,my old dad pushes me all the time,do this do that ,my own place i need,this old farm yard would make a good old depot, but to far away from the main road,and how would i get drivers,all i need is a good fitter,a good driver,
i expect i could use that old HEADLIGHT MAG,
NOW THEN,!YOU
ramone:
How about this for a new topic , does anyone think it would be possible to start from scratch and build up a multi vehicle fleet nationwide , I for one think not with so much current legislation , fuel prices and the big players taking the cream of the business
It may not be totally impossible up start up as a young O/D to-day but unless you accept the fact that you would have to be a full time “subbie” for a large operator which in turn would mean your destiny would be controlled totally not to mention that your earnings would also be below par.Now that was an option that I never considered when I started as a young O/D in early’68 but then again Carriers licencing was still in force and my “A” licence was my key to building up decent traffic flows to and from London and the S.East,which apart from the first three months I started when I did a bit of “allsorts” I quickly got started running out of Libbys factory at Milnthorpe and they had plenty of traffic for a 10 tonner down to London! I was then able to develop good contacts for back loading all kinds of general traffic and lucrative small consignments as there was no-way did London hauliers want to venture further North than L’pool or Man/cr so although I was “subbing” it was on my terms not wanting to put too much emphasis on it!! A little story comes to mind of when I actually started at Libbys,I was sheeting my load one day when this ■■■■ of a manager of RO Hodgsons (a large local haulier at the time) approached me and asked right out “How did you manage to get into Libbys you’d be far better off running full time for us as I can load you to and from anywhere” I told him “to go and ■■■■ his self”!! This same ■■■■ a few years later was caught in K.Fells yard one Sunday morning looking under their sheets to see what they were loaded with,it’s a good job it was prior to 1976 when I bought Fells out as I would have kicked the ■■■■ all over the yard !! Happy Days Cheers Bewick.
