One winter in the mid seventies, I was a driver with Robert Croan (Croan for Kippers) of Granton near Leith. In the workshop was a Defect book which had to be filled in by the driver on ending his shift and checked by the driver on starting his shift in case the truck had been booked as unroadworthy. On one occasion when checking the book one of the previous drivers had been having a problem in filling in the column for type of vehicle. It had AKI with a line through it ACKI scored out and a few other attempts and finaly a Round circle with a large A in the centre. many of us had a good laugh at the Irishmans attempt to spell Atkinson.
M&C Jamie:
One winter in the mid seventies, I was a driver with Robert Croan (Croan for Kippers) of Granton near Leith. In the workshop was a Defect book which had to be filled in by the driver on ending his shift and checked by the driver on starting his shift in case the truck had been booked as unroadworthy. On one occasion when checking the book one of the previous drivers had been having a problem in filling in the column for type of vehicle. It had AKI with a line through it ACKI scored out and a few other attempts and finaly a Round circle with a large A in the centre. many of us had a good laugh at the Irishmans attempt to spell Atkinson.
That made me laugh, 
strange how the press called them THE BIG A yet i never called Atkinson’s that even the re launch of the Big A on the 401 never caught on, carnt say i heard many drivers call them by that either.
M&C Jamie:
One winter in the mid seventies, I was a driver with Robert Croan (Croan for Kippers) of Granton near Leith. In the workshop was a Defect book which had to be filled in by the driver on ending his shift and checked by the driver on starting his shift in case the truck had been booked as unroadworthy. On one occasion when checking the book one of the previous drivers had been having a problem in filling in the column for type of vehicle. It had AKI with a line through it ACKI scored out and a few other attempts and finaly a Round circle with a large A in the centre. many of us had a good laugh at the Irishmans attempt to spell Atkinson.
Did you ever come across a driver called Dennis Gunn.
Robert.
the mechanic 51:
M&C Jamie:
One winter in the mid seventies, I was a driver with Robert Croan (Croan for Kippers) of Granton near Leith. In the workshop was a Defect book which had to be filled in by the driver on ending his shift and checked by the driver on starting his shift in case the truck had been booked as unroadworthy. On one occasion when checking the book one of the previous drivers had been having a problem in filling in the column for type of vehicle. It had AKI with a line through it ACKI scored out and a few other attempts and finaly a Round circle with a large A in the centre. many of us had a good laugh at the Irishmans attempt to spell Atkinson.Did you ever come across a driver called Dennis Gunn.
Robert.
Yes i remember Dennis, but i think he worked for the other Croan. I remember when he stayed at Pentland Park and his son who was only about three or four at the time,could speak a language with verbs that will never be printed in the english dictionary and had a fear for no one. He was Dennis’s pride and joy. Regards jamie.
A Scot Lost in the Valley’s.
8LXBV8BRIAN:
M&C Jamie:
One winter in the mid seventies, I was a driver with Robert Croan (Croan for Kippers) of Granton near Leith. In the workshop was a Defect book which had to be filled in by the driver on ending his shift and checked by the driver on starting his shift in case the truck had been booked as unroadworthy. On one occasion when checking the book one of the previous drivers had been having a problem in filling in the column for type of vehicle. It had AKI with a line through it ACKI scored out and a few other attempts and finaly a Round circle with a large A in the centre. many of us had a good laugh at the Irishmans attempt to spell Atkinson.That made me laugh,
I seem to recall that Truck magazine’s feature article on the launch of the 401 was entitled Riding the Big A. To be fair to Seddon Atkinson, they were perhaps preaching to the converted with the re-launch of the Big A on the grille. Some companies - W&J Riding being a very obvious one, were keen to keep the Atkinson lineage going. From their very first 400 series, they put the ringed-A on the grille and had plastic A badges made to replace the ‘mating snails’ applied by the factory. Along with those, there were also blue A T K I N S O N letters which went on the upper grille panel. It’s probably fair to say that if Seddon Atkinson wanted a view on how their products should’ve looked, they needed to look no further than Daniel Platt garage.
As a personal view, I never thought the plastic ringed-A was anywhere near as nice a product as the original one applied to Atkinsons. It just didn’t look like a quality item.
Well in the 50s I worked for Baxters on Newcastle Quayside, They had a 4 wheeler Aki DGR 822, It had a 4 LK Gardner engine Driven for a long time by the late Jimmy Lawson, it was refered to as the little Aki, They also had WTN 58, With a 5 LW Engine Driven from new by the late Tommy Nixon (Grandad) This was refered to as the big Aki, it later pulled a Dyson Trailer, I got TBR 997 From new 1960, & that was refered to as the new Aki, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
0Well in the 50s I worked for Baxters on Newcastle Quayside, They had a 4 wheeler Aki DGR 822, It had a 4 LK Gardner engine Driven for a long time by the late Jimmy Lawson, it was refered to as the little Aki, They also had WTN 58, With a 5 LW Engine Driven from new by the late Tommy Nixon (Grandad) This was refered to as the big Aki, it later pulled a Dyson Trailer, I got TBR 997 From new 1960, & that was refered to as the new Aki, Regards Larry.
Those were days to be rememered and “savoured” Larry!!!,well with a Large Glen Morangie in your hand at the same time mebe ! They were hard days no doubt but I bet we both wish we could turn the clock back,probably by a good number of years eh! Great days!! Cheers Dennis.
Aye Dennis you are right they were had days but I enjoyed them I worked hard alongside some of the best drivers anyone could wish for, the money was there if you didnt mind the long hours, which I certainley didnt as most of my hard working mates, allthough there was some nuggets about in those days who thought the that the gaffer owed them a favour every time they went out with their motor, I couldnt be bothered with them, they used to sit in the digs & spout how if they left the job, the gaffer would have to pack in , & how he couldnt manage without them Ha.Ha, youve probabley heard it all before Eh Dennis, Happy days I could do them all again, Regards Larry.
8LXBV8BRIAN:
M&C Jamie:
One winter in the mid seventies, I was a driver with Robert Croan (Croan for Kippers) of Granton near Leith. In the workshop was a Defect book which had to be filled in by the driver on ending his shift and checked by the driver on starting his shift in case the truck had been booked as unroadworthy. On one occasion when checking the book one of the previous drivers had been having a problem in filling in the column for type of vehicle. It had AKI with a line through it ACKI scored out and a few other attempts and finaly a Round circle with a large A in the centre. many of us had a good laugh at the Irishmans attempt to spell Atkinson.That made me laugh,
ATKI, great motor. I was king of the road when I got NTY683M new, 1973. It was all downhill from there as I got a 1418 merc three years later, 
regards Kev.
Hi Kev, Those were the Waughy days Eh, I remember Parky on about those Mercs, He wasnt impressed either, Getting away off this subject I was at one of Parkys drinking pals Funeral at Seaton Burn on Monday & they had the funeral tea in the Moor House , Parkys old watering hole, His photo is still on the wall where he used to sit with his mates , not many of them left sadley to say, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Hi Kev, Those were the Waughy days Eh, I remember Parky on about those Mercs, He wasnt impressed either, Getting away off this subject I was at one of Parkys drinking pals Funeral at Seaton Burn on Monday & they had the funeral tea in the Moor House , Parkys old watering hole, His photo is still on the wall where he used to sit with his mates , not many of them left sadley to say, Regards Larry.
Parky got one of the first of three 8LXB Gardner Atkinson’s at Waugh’s LTY126L and i must say this motor was one
if not the most reliable motors ever in its time at waugh’s it never had a spanner put to it,just
regular servicing, the best thing was it didn’t come with the group axle, which the other two L reg
motors did.
The Merc 1418 Parky got was — 195P the first 3 digits escape me i think it was MJR but not sure
before he got 195R he had the first 400 series Sed/Ak the day cab LBB 815P which had had the passenger seat removed and a box affair fitted which folded out to give a bunk 
across the cab as the sleeper cab was not available at the time.
He must have liked LTY 126L he asked Sir Bob for it back twice he got it the first time but not the second.
Its the only 8lxb Gardner i didn’t get a photo of at waugh’s .
Lawrence Dunbar:
Hi Kev, Those were the Waughy days Eh, I remember Parky on about those Mercs, He wasnt impressed either, Getting away off this subject I was at one of Parkys drinking pals Funeral at Seaton Burn on Monday & they had the funeral tea in the Moor House , Parkys old watering hole, His photo is still on the wall where he used to sit with his mates , not many of them left sadley to say, Regards Larry.
I will never forget his little smirk when he’d been seen with a “new niece” in his cab. Regards Kev.
Speaking of Sir Bob, He is still about, I was speaking to Andrew Baxter the late Jonny Baxters son who still keeps in contact with Bob Kinghorn, He said he would ask him If he had any photos to do with the wagons but I havent heard from him as yet, Regards Larry.
kevmac47:
Lawrence Dunbar:
Hi Kev, Those were the Waughy days Eh, I remember Parky on about those Mercs, He wasnt impressed either, Getting away off this subject I was at one of Parkys drinking pals Funeral at Seaton Burn on Monday & they had the funeral tea in the Moor House , Parkys old watering hole, His photo is still on the wall where he used to sit with his mates , not many of them left sadley to say, Regards Larry.I will never forget his little smirk when he’d been seen with a “new niece” in his cab. Regards Kev.
Kev he was known county wide for his charm with the ladies, He could spot them a mile away with his bloody eyes closed, He reckoned it was far better than driving a wagon, but he did both at the same time the horney owld devil, R I P Parkey you lucky owld bugger, Regards Larry.
240 Gardner:
VALKYRIE:
But I assumme that you do not know the answer to the meanings of the bracketed capital (E),(L),(S) and (T) letters at the end of certain Atkinson vehicle model desiginations.
VALKYRIE.
E=Eaton driving axle, S=Splitter gearbox
I don’t recall ever seeing a ‘T’ suffix though
With regard to the Ruston-engined tractor, I believe it was operated as a test bed for Ruston’s purposes, rather than Atkinson’s.
And EUREKA ! 
again! Thank you very much,again,240 Gardner …these important nuggets of information all add great value and interest to the fascinating history of Atkinson and Company/Atkinson Lorries (1933) Ltd /Atkinson Vehicles Ltd/Seddon Atkinson Vehicles Ltd,1907 - 2006
I’d love to know what the bracketed (L) and (T) letters stand for Typical examples being :-
T3046(L)C. And the bracketed (L) isn’t even at the end of the designation in this case.
S2266X(T).
T3266C(T).
Somebody will know somewhere
VALKYRIE.
In the case of the (L) and (T) suffix designations, T may well refer to Tandem and L for Longwheel Base. The S2266X is the same Type, Weight, Wheel Arrangement and Engine as the S2266X(T), except one is Single drive and the other Tandem, the (T) being the designation of which is which. Similarly the T3046C and T3046C(L) are both the same ie, four wheel tractors of 30Ton with ■■■■■■■ six cylinder engines except the latter has a longer wheelbase so (L) to differentiate the two. Franky.
Frankydobo:
In the case of the (L) and (T) suffix designations, T may well refer to Tandem and L for Longwheel Base. The S2266X is the same Type, Weight, Wheel Arrangement and Engine as the S2266X(T), except one is Single drive and the other Tandem, the (T) being the designation of which is which. Similarly the T3046C and T3046C(L) are both the same ie, four wheel tractors of 30Ton with ■■■■■■■ six cylinder engines except the latter has a longer wheelbase so (L) to differentiate the two. Franky.
And EUREKA! for a third time! Franky.Thank you very much I am sure that you are right
And thanks for the Atkinson Bodyline Gold Knight S2266X photograph.
Most motor vehicle model designations are usually obvious as to what they mean,while others need to be decoded by experts who then put up key tables to guide you through all the chassis designation codes
The Atkinson bracketed capital letters were not that obvious - but they are now that 240 Gardner and you have explained what they mean! Anyway,it’s all good fun,and the information adds more informative value to the history of Atkinson Vehicles
VALKYRIE.
Frankydobo:
This is starting to do my head in now, everytime I read an article on an Atkinson the shortened term is spelt a different way, so I end up saying it as I read it. As far as I’ve known it the nickname for an Atkinson has always been an Aki or even Big Aki on occasions. Current magazines Editors however have felt the need to add the silent T so it reads Atki (AT kee). This is irritating as I find myself pronouncng it as At kee when reading articles. We all know there is a T between the A and K but it was always silent unless the full name was used, at least all the years I’ve heard or said it.
Now it seems the latest spelling is Atky with a flaming Y. Who makes up this tosh so we all end up reading incorrect terms. Susie as Suzie is another of my hates but that’s for another time. Okay its what might seem a small and unimportant issue but does anybody else find this sort of thing annoying, if not is it okay to call Mercedes, Merks, Scania a Skanya and Leyland a Layland, probably not. Not everyone is top of the class with their spelling but you expect magazines to get it right. Oh well I’m off to read my book on SedAk’s, sorry SedAtky’s!
Franky.
CJA1:
What about [thatki theerf thornicroft] Lol Cheers Chris.
Well to be fair, It all relates to where you come from, Gordies, Yorkies, Jocks, Cockneys, Taffeys Etc, We all have our differant sayings, & as a Gordie myself I allways said Acki, But when I started driving wagons in the 50s as a young lad I followed suit as to the great blokes I had the pleasures to work with & if they said it was right, it was right to Acki, & Even the bloke I worked for on the Quayside Jonnie Baxter , he allways refered to them as Ackis, So there you go, who is right & who is wrong, But does it matter anyway how one says it , Regards Larry.