Found a recent picture of one of the overbridges on the old A34 ( Its a wonder I have never ran off the A34 trying to see over the hedges trying to trace the old line!) is this the same bridge? If you look through the bridge on the recent pic that is the present A34 over bridge,older pic re-posted from top of page,
Buzzer:
Well chaps I have done a bit of digging and usually the reason for a bridge was a rail line and I have found a map which would put a line where I said I recall the bridge, bearing in mind a lot of these lines were axed by Beaching in the early sixties this this could have been the line between Salisbury and Basingstoke as per attached map, detective Buzzer.
You mean the Waterloo to Exeter line that’s still open today
The bridge in picture was a north south line joining the Hants and berks just about where the A34 goes other it today
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The last time I saw EGB4 was on Eric Bakers Merc 190 about 1979…I think he had a Ford Granada Mk5 previous to that seen parked outside the office on the Bitterne side of Northam bridge.
Pete on the wall of the pub in your picture is an advert for “Howards for timber” who used to have a huge yard just over the Northam bridge on the way out of Southampton. Re member going there for hard wood to rebed a farm bale trailer and an uncle of mine was a saw doctor there, another Mary Hopkins moment, cheers Buzzer.
Buzzer:
Pete on the wall of the pub in your picture is an advert for “Howards for timber” who used to have a huge yard just over the Northam bridge on the way out of Southampton. Re member going there for hard wood to rebed a farm bale trailer and an uncle of mine was a saw doctor there, another Mary Hopkins moment, cheers Buzzer.
Buzzer, Howards had huge round timber in the river seasoning, which the kids were keen to play on at times. Whilst on Mary Hopkins moments do you remember Dirty Dicks cafe at Sutton Scotney where the mobile home site is now. Also the Pit cafe on A30 between Kings Worthy & the Lunways, also the School cafe on A30 near Popham. Stroker.
Howards timber was loaded at their Canning town wharf, timber was unloaded in the London docks then transferred by barge up the cannel to Howards we as a back load to Southampton having to go into weigh at the council yard a small weigh bridge taken in two weighs tractor unit then forward on with trailer wheels then over the the old Northam bridge unload and reverse process, this was because paid on weight any trailer whether flat or semi and even low loaders loaded back from Howards when in London old council yard was in Elm St opposite Chapel Rd. Relived a few memories as was driving one of those trucks before moving on when Bakers were at six dials in St Marys Rd had it from new Reg Green and Charlie Smith had the fisrt to arrive then Brian Paul and myself the second pair they were 150 gardeners
nice pic by the way a trip down memory lane thanks
gazzer:
I’m sorry, me and Jimski have to sit this one out…not sure about Mappo tho’!
Yep ain’t got a clue Gazza ! We is young blood !! 
but I have fiddled a few log books 
A friend of mine has got an old Erf with the word Southampton over the radiator. If anyone has any info on this vehicle please post. JXF 101 First registered in London in 1947ish
Would that have been one of Eric Baker’s early motors. Or perhaps Mappo’s first Looks like on of his.
Regards Charli
charlie one:
Would that have been one of Eric Baker’s early motors. Or perhaps Mappo’s first Looks like on of his.
Regards Charli
Charlie I know mappos first truck had a wooden cab and he got the sack coz he wooden work hes a lot older than he lets on you know.
It’s not Mappo’s first lorry,because it’s got a cab, and there are no flags.
Regards
Richard
Cheeky beggars, 
especially as i,m younger than all three of you… 
Atki mad:
A friend of mine has got an old Erf with the word Southampton over the radiator. If anyone has any info on this vehicle please post. JXF 101 First registered in London in 1947ish
This Willenhall cabbed C16 's colour scheme suggests to me that it may well have been operated by Charlie Russett whose scrap yard was in Lower Wiliam Street, Northam. If it was Russett’s, then it had a small crane mounted on the back to lift & tow.
Can anybody remember a company from the Soton area by the name of Watkins,maybe AB Watkins ?
There was a firm Alan Watkins from Fareham area, used to load out of Sweetheart Plastics in Gosport.
They were blue motors.
Suedehead:
Can anybody remember a company from the Soton area by the name of Watkins,maybe AB Watkins ?
F B ATKINS ?
