jcsignsjohn:
Here is a 1949 Leyland Octopus owned by me.
What is the history of this vehicle? I lived near the Taunton Cider works at Norton Fitzwarren and do not recall ever seeing this vehicle. Certainly the registration is not Somerset. However, I did see Bedford O type chassis that carried square tanks that were removable.
The Octopus is registered London C.C. Feb 1950 - Feb 1951.
I wondered if it was ex Shell-Mex,Esso or another fuel company as I seem to recall that KYH was a block issued to one of them.
This Leyland Roadtrain is enjoying its second life on Gozo , Malta .
The cab appears to be in reasonably good condition , and has “go faster” stripes on the cab doors >
paw123:
Good photographs, Shotley Bridge side of Burn Mill, Blue House in the back ground.
Well spotted most of our photos were taken there, see you enjoyed the video got another 3 parts to do yet. It brought back memories when you see Normans & the Quernhow again & trucks from companies that are no longer in business.
transporter man:
Couple of photo’s of swb Comet from the 50’s
1970commer:
Here are a couple of Leylands at the yard of Denis Salt of Longford, the Reiver KUE 526 V in the foreground had just been painted ready for the road after being purchased from Tarmac, Cauldon Lowe. In the background can just be seen a Clydesdale BRE 476 T which had also been in the paint shop. Both these lorries ran in Ballidon Quarry near Ashbourne around 1985/6. Denis ran all types of lorries over the years he also ran a lorry repair business and at one time had a coal round, he also tried his hand at the licensed trade when he ran The Wheatsheaf pub in Wirksworth.
Is that the Reiver that Arthur Salt (no relation) drove Rob, I guess that the Clydesdale was Duncan’s as it looks to tidy to have been Jim’s (RIP) and they certainly got through some work back in those days when you had to keep your mirror’s in! Good pics, and good memories as well.
Pete.
Hey up pete, thats the lorry Arthur was a pilot on and yes Duncan did have the Clydesdale in the background, Jim Fairbanks finished off the reiver as he does with most lorries he has. Gavin ended up with the Clydesdale and had a driver on it, one saturday the driver went along St. Alkmunds Way in Derby and turned left to go underneath the 8 foot bridge, there was an almighty bang as the air horns snapped off, then the tipper ram hit the body but nothing compared to the noise when the driver realised he would not get under the bridge so he slammed it in reverse and left two big gouges up the bonnet of the car that had stopped behind him.
jcsignsjohn:
Here is a 1949 Leyland Octopus owned by me.
What is the history of this vehicle? I lived near the Taunton Cider works at Norton Fitzwarren and do not recall ever seeing this vehicle. Certainly the registration is not Somerset. However, I did see Bedford O type chassis that carried square tanks that were removable.
Sorry for not replying sooner. This Octopus was originally supplied to Courage Brewery, hence the London reg. Bought by Taunton Cider in 1955 when 5 years old. Used on regular run from Taunton to a bottling plant in London and returned with powdered sugar from the Isle of Dogs or apple juice from the Kent orchards. Came off the road in 1973 and left to rot in the corner of their yard. Taunton Cider rebuilt it themselves in the 1980’s and I acquired it in 1991. The (original) tank was rebuilt 5 years ago and the lorry resprayed.
Regards,
John.
Message for mickthebrush , great pictures of Dodds , your Cruiser looked smart , did she pull well ? , i thought they werte a bit gutless for A frame drawbar . A frame drawbars were great once your mastered the reverse , I use to love doing a box swap in the services , well if it was going well but if it went bad it was embarrsing ,.
1970commer:
Here are a couple of Leylands at the yard of Denis Salt of Longford, the Reiver KUE 526 V in the foreground had just been painted ready for the road after being purchased from Tarmac, Cauldon Lowe. In the background can just be seen a Clydesdale BRE 476 T which had also been in the paint shop. Both these lorries ran in Ballidon Quarry near Ashbourne around 1985/6. Denis ran all types of lorries over the years he also ran a lorry repair business and at one time had a coal round, he also tried his hand at the licensed trade when he ran The Wheatsheaf pub in Wirksworth.
Just a couple more pics of Denis’s wagons. The first after the Reiver was put out to pasture (early 90s) and the second the cab of the Clydesdale can be seen to the left of Ernie Stead’s S83.
PS. Do you have any other Tarmac related lorry pics?
1970commer:
Here are a couple of Leylands at the yard of Denis Salt of Longford, the Reiver KUE 526 V in the foreground had just been painted ready for the road after being purchased from Tarmac, Cauldon Lowe. In the background can just be seen a Clydesdale BRE 476 T which had also been in the paint shop. Both these lorries ran in Ballidon Quarry near Ashbourne around 1985/6. Denis ran all types of lorries over the years he also ran a lorry repair business and at one time had a coal round, he also tried his hand at the licensed trade when he ran The Wheatsheaf pub in Wirksworth.
Just a couple more pics of Denis’s wagons. The first after the Reiver was put out to pasture (early 90s) and the second the cab of the Clydesdale can be seen to the left of Ernie Stead’s S83.
PS. Do you have any other Tarmac related lorry pics?
early marathon,note the set forward cab
