Aye Dennis but I had to be careful due to being double drive worm and pinion diffs. Tyre matching was also critical otherwise wind up would occur causing the wagon to suddenly slow down and come to a standstill. The cure being to reverse back a few yards. I only experienced the phenominom once running down empty from Kinlochleven when in the middle of Rannoch Moor I came to a standstill. I had been swoppig tyres round a few days previously and got it wrong. Lesson learn’t.
Cheers, Leyland 600.
Bewick:
Leyland600:
Dennis, the S21 cabbed Foden I had would do 42mph it was built in 1963 whereas the later ones S80 and 83 fitted with all mod cons would do about 52-53mph.
Cheers. Leyland 600And I just bet they spent a lot of time in “Aberdeen overdrive” then Gerald ! Cheers Dennis.
Now then Dennis behave yourself, Proper Foden Drivers had no cause to do this, Double direct drive transmission would fly to bits, Anyway a Foden with the 12 speed box with a gear for every hill allways made good time & was noted for getting there on time 
O f course Im speaking for myself & my Fodens, that were good performers IMO, Regards Larry 
.
Leyland600:
Back in the early 1960s when I started driving lots of trunkers and others drove on sidelights and one nearside spotlight or flat beam foglight. Lots of wagons from the 1950s still on the road at this time did not have flashing indicators nor brake stop lights and the only indication that such a vehicle in front of you was going to brake or turn off was a couple of off-on flicks of the tail lights. Aye life in the fast lane max speed 35mph at a push but most about 32 mph or even less 28mph for some could be interesting.
Cheers, Leyland 600
Hiya
Yep I spent quite a time at 28 mph in my very early years on the road
as a wag and drag man but I was always guaranteed to have my very
own convoy and when they did get past they were so grateful for me
having shown them the way they used to offer me little gifts of boxes
of matches in appreciation but the drivers never ever smiled.
thanks harry, long retired.
Leyland600:
Aye Dennis but I had to be careful due to being double drive worm and pinion diffs. Tyre matching was also critical otherwise wind up would occur causing the wagon to suddenly slow down and come to a standstill. The cure being to reverse back a few yards. I only experienced the phenominom once running down empty from Kinlochleven when in the middle of Rannoch Moor I came to a standstill. I had been swoppig tyres round a few days previously and got it wrong. Lesson learn’t.
Cheers, Leyland 600.
Your on about having to match Tyres Gerald I believe the Albion Reiver suffered similar problems, I wonder if RWB ever experienced problems ? Cheers Dennis.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Bewick:
Leyland600:
Dennis, the S21 cabbed Foden I had would do 42mph it was built in 1963 whereas the later ones S80 and 83 fitted with all mod cons would do about 52-53mph.
Cheers. Leyland 600And I just bet they spent a lot of time in “Aberdeen overdrive” then Gerald ! Cheers Dennis.
Now then Dennis behave yourself, Proper Foden Drivers had no cause to do this, Double direct drive transmission would fly to bits, Anyway a Foden with the 12 speed box with a gear for every hill allways made good time & was noted for getting there on time
Aye Larry, Fodens should have awarded you a “long service medal” for being very tolerant !! 
Cheers Dennis.
harry_gill:
Leyland600:
Back in the early 1960s when I started driving lots of trunkers and others drove on sidelights and one nearside spotlight or flat beam foglight. Lots of wagons from the 1950s still on the road at this time did not have flashing indicators nor brake stop lights and the only indication that such a vehicle in front of you was going to brake or turn off was a couple of off-on flicks of the tail lights. Aye life in the fast lane max speed 35mph at a push but most about 32 mph or even less 28mph for some could be interesting.
Cheers, Leyland 600Hiya
Yep I spent quite a time at 28 mph in my very early years on the road
as a wag and drag man but I was always guaranteed to have my very
own convoy and when they did get past they were so grateful for me
having shown them the way they used to offer me little gifts of boxes
of matches in appreciation but the drivers never ever smiled.
thanks harry, long retired.
I reckon “H” that when you were running on Carbide lamps 28mph would be about as fast as your “bottle” would stand Cheers Dennis.
Bewick:
harry_gill:
Leyland600:
Back in the early 1960s when I started driving lots of trunkers and others drove on sidelights and one nearside spotlight or flat beam foglight. Lots of wagons from the 1950s still on the road at this time did not have flashing indicators nor brake stop lights and the only indication that such a vehicle in front of you was going to brake or turn off was a couple of off-on flicks of the tail lights. Aye life in the fast lane max speed 35mph at a push but most about 32 mph or even less 28mph for some could be interesting.
Cheers, Leyland 600Hiya
Yep I spent quite a time at 28 mph in my very early years on the road
as a wag and drag man but I was always guaranteed to have my very
own convoy and when they did get past they were so grateful for me
having shown them the way they used to offer me little gifts of boxes
of matches in appreciation but the drivers never ever smiled.
thanks harry, long retired.I reckon “H” that when you were running on Carbide lamps 28mph would be about as fast as your “bottle” would stand
Yes Dennis but which Bottle are you referring to■■? Regards Larry.
harry_gill:
Leyland600:
Back in the early 1960s when I started driving lots of trunkers and others drove on sidelights and one nearside spotlight or flat beam foglight. Lots of wagons from the 1950s still on the road at this time did not have flashing indicators nor brake stop lights and the only indication that such a vehicle in front of you was going to brake or turn off was a couple of off-on flicks of the tail lights. Aye life in the fast lane max speed 35mph at a push but most about 32 mph or even less 28mph for some could be interesting.
Cheers, Leyland 600Hiya
Yep I spent quite a time at 28 mph in my very early years on the road
as a wag and drag man but I was always guaranteed to have my very
own convoy and when they did get past they were so grateful for me
having shown them the way they used to offer me little gifts of boxes
of matches in appreciation but the drivers never ever smiled.
thanks harry, long retired.
Harry don’t you think that the matches were to torch the wagon & drag ? Then perhaps they may have smiled Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
harry_gill:
Leyland600:
Back in the early 1960s when I started driving lots of trunkers and others drove on sidelights and one nearside spotlight or flat beam foglight. Lots of wagons from the 1950s still on the road at this time did not have flashing indicators nor brake stop lights and the only indication that such a vehicle in front of you was going to brake or turn off was a couple of off-on flicks of the tail lights. Aye life in the fast lane max speed 35mph at a push but most about 32 mph or even less 28mph for some could be interesting.
Cheers, Leyland 600Hiya
Yep I spent quite a time at 28 mph in my very early years on the road
as a wag and drag man but I was always guaranteed to have my very
own convoy and when they did get past they were so grateful for me
having shown them the way they used to offer me little gifts of boxes
of matches in appreciation but the drivers never ever smiled.
thanks harry, long retired.Harry don’t you think that the matches were to torch the wagon & drag ?
Hiya,
Your spot on Larry and some/most of the “leggers” I got lumbered with
should have been torched long before I got anywhere near them best
thing that ever happened was the introduction of Testing and Plating
it didn’t half shove some bangers off the road.
thanks harry, long retired.
Yes Harry you are quite right, lots of bangers were certainly put off the road. Bald tyres especially the spare wheel and black smoke was the norm back then.
Cheers, Leyland 600.
Leyland600:
Yes Harry you are quite right, lots of bangers were certainly put off the road. Bald tyres especially the spare wheel and black smoke was the norm back then.
Cheers, Leyland 600.
It wasn’t just “old bangers” that got put off the road Gerald there was a good number of well maintained fleets that got penalised when Plating and Testing was introduced. Two local firms I recall down this way got a right slating ! W.Keith and Son of Flookburgh were one who ran an immaculate fleet of Guy’s which were downplated because of their air over hydraulic brakes. Also Nelsons of Arnside ran a fleet of older motors but all were maintained to the highest standard by their fitters ( who were all members of the Nelson family). These local firms along with many other well run outfits were forced into having to invest in new equipment far quicker than they could afford all because of that ■■■■■ Barbara Castle and the Labour Government who brought in the new legislation a lot quicker than should have been the case, fine for the likes of BRS who had unlimited funding care of yours truly “the tax payer” ! I am not personally cribbing as I started just when the new C & U regs came in although I did get caught out with the down plating of a little Albion 4 wheeler but that was all. The C & U regs should have been introduced via a longer and more favourable programme, fair do’s weed the rubbish out but those decent Operators should have been allowed more breathing space eh! Cheers Dennis.
Bewick:
Leyland600:
Yes Harry you are quite right, lots of bangers were certainly put off the road. Bald tyres especially the spare wheel and black smoke was the norm back then.
Cheers, Leyland 600.It wasn’t just “old bangers” that got put off the road Gerald there was a good number of well maintained fleets that got penalised when Plating and Testing was introduced. Two local firms I recall down this way got a right slating ! W.Keith and Son of Flookburgh were one who ran an immaculate fleet of Guy’s which were downplated because of their air over hydraulic brakes. Also Nelsons of Arnside ran a fleet of older motors but all were maintained to the highest standard by their fitters ( who were all members of the Nelson family). These local firms along with many other well run outfits were forced into having to invest in new equipment far quicker than they could afford all because of that ■■■■■ Barbara Castle and the Labour Government who brought in the new legislation a lot quicker than should have been the case, fine for the likes of BRS who had unlimited funding care of yours truly “the tax payer” ! I am not personally cribbing as I started just when the new C & U regs came in although I did get caught out with the down plating of a little Albion 4 wheeler but that was all. The C & U regs should have been introduced via a longer and more favourable programme, fair do’s weed the rubbish out but those decent Operators should have been allowed more breathing space eh! Cheers Dennis.
Well put Dennis, Do you remember when it was once said by someone that Babara Castle has one & Harold Wilson is a one, , Regards Larry
I certainly remember that saying very well Larry as some Cockney wise guy chalked it on the back cross member of my D1000 flat, so I just left it to wear off over the next week or so ! and No! I didn’t keep “refreshing” the slogan ! Cheers Dennis.
You’re both right. The new legislation was something that Dennis and I started out with, so, that was just the way of the world. As said before I had incredible respect for Bill Keith, I thought his Guy Invincibles were brilliant.
To be fair the ‘ministry’ when Millom Ironworks closed, IIRC they did convert his ‘contract A’ licences to full ‘A licences’ worth £1,000 a time then. Also Bill was a great engineer. He took on loads from Bowaters and as discussed on other threads, converted D1000s to Leyland 680 engines to pull 36’ single axle vans - again, I think Dennis and I have mentioned this somewhere.
On the other side of the coin. I bought a second hand Triumph Spitfire from a used car lot in Preston in about 1970. The seller was called Blamire. When he found out that I had two trucks we talked about transport and he said that his family firm had run lorries for many years. However, they had failed over the past few years because they couldn’t come to to terms with the new legislation. He said he was sure I would get on because I wasn’t used to the old way of doing things.
I mentioned it on here and some of the senior members commented on their fleet and the state of it.
Brady’s were old school, but they coped. I remember saying something like ‘How have you found Brady’s gear?’ To a new inspector at the MOT centre in the old Barrow Bus Depot (remember the Chewits adverts?) and he replied that although everyone had warned him about Brady’s, their fleet was in good condition. I’m sure that hadn’t been the case a few years before. Dennis will know better than me!
In England there were the maintenance rules. When I got to Saudi, there were none. However we did maintain our trucks properly, because you really did not want to be marooned 500 miles from anywhere!
John.
Hiya John ! Bradys always bought new gear except for a few motors they bought with licences off other hauliers and then ran them for a while until they were replaced, I can recall in particular an Albion Reiver ex Hauliers of Barrow, a six wheel AEC ex Fred Shaw which, oddly, they stuck in a second steer axle which didn’t lock out as far as the front axle so I don’t think it was a “roaring success” obviously one of “The Big’uns” Bollox ! They also ran a couple of ex Furness Transport 8 wheelers for a while. By 1968 they were into buying new Atki 6x2 units and Scania 110’s always in “sixes” which was a peculiarity and “speciality” of “The Big’uns” buying policy which was as follows— as he once told me and his MO was told to me by Jack also, what he did was grind the Sales executives down for just one unit or trailer then once he had achieved an “acceptable” price ( to him ) he then said “OK Son I’ll have six!” He got away with this stroke time and again Jack told me ! Barrovians for you I suppose ! Cheers Dennis.
Morning Dennis,
Been having a mooch back through this thread and found the below picture, your old marra John Leddington still has this in his garage, Simpsons of Shap ran it on contract for Russell’s ( pic belongs to Buycrider) Cheer’s Pete
Hi
I Know Arthur Simpson of Shap very well,He employed a driver called Andrew Furguson used run out of British Gypsum Kirby Thore
I used to Load out of Gypsum sumtimes
Eventually when Arthur Simson packed it in,He drove for Stobarts doing nites from Penrith Depot
Norman Croad,Torquay.
pete smith:
( pic belongs to Buycrider)
Where is Buycrider these days ■■
robroy:
pete smith:
( pic belongs to Buycrider)Where is Buycrider these days ■■
He’ll be causing mayhem in Penrith or the surrounding area no doubt Anon 1.