I was right. A bit of Googling says the picture was from 1967, when Sir Thomas was sold to the fledgling Bucks Railway Centre at Quainton. The engine was out of ticket when bought but had been kept stored in servicable condition since it was withdrawn in 1965.
Nobby, the foreman at Burford Quarry is ex Bennie and used to work/know ex O.I.C employees; He said the old timers were fond of that engine and kept it stored because they didn’t trust the new diesel shunters which were arriving at the time.
Dave Buckinghams’ somewhat customised 8wheeler. Done in tribute to his Dad, well known od Charlie.
pete smith:
Couple for Muckaway, Happy memories with the first picture Mate?
Just imagine the fun to be had in those days. 
Painted Standard Vanguard shells from Pressed Steel heading for BRS yard in Sandy Lane, then on to Standard Triumph at Fletchampstead Highway, Coventry.
Oily
oiltreader:
Painted Standard Vanguard shells from Pressed Steel heading for BRS yard in Sandy Lane, then on to Standard Triumph at Fletchampstead Highway, Coventry.
Oily
Excellent old shot Oily !! they had that combination at PSF Swindon , regards Keith .
Smiths will be featured in Octobers’ T and D apparently, in a feature to do with them axing the last Fodens. I was told today that my old 54 plate was towed away for scrap this week. Not even 12 years old either. Where’s the time gone? It doesn’t seem that long ago I had it new, but then it’s nearly four years since I’ve been gone. Smiths have put some more new trucks on the road this week too; Not sure if any buyers are lined up, but there are at least three withdrawn Alphas in their yard.
Not just a lorry driver coming to grief in Burford…it’s an M and S lorry driver. Probably agency.
Watson Petroleum at Redbridge last month, I remember their original depot at Oxpens I think it was.
Oily
oiltreader:
Another firm that goes back a lot further.
Oily
Sheehans now own a large share of Tuckwells. Tuckwells’ long term rivals J.Curtis are now part of the same group also.
Taken from a brochure Smiths produced to coincide with Gill Mill quarry opening in 1989/90.
This lorry was a cancelled order, which I was told was destined for AJ Andrews plant in Princes Risborough, hence the ribbed muckshifting body. It was heavy by '90s standards, only carried just over 18 tonnes and was sold on in 1999; By Smiths standards at the time this was premature as other G reg trucks gave nearly 14 years service. Apparently the 4400 badge is a white lie, and it was actually a 4300 like other Smiths 8wheelers.
Bye bye Foden,
Oily
pete smith:
Muckaway’s first motor at Smith’s!
Got the Corgi model of that, Pete. They got the cab wrong though.
oiltreader:
Bye bye Foden,
Oily
That Foden’s been on static display since around 2009, Oily. My Dad had that from when it was about a month old until late 2001 when he was put through his Class 1. Brian “Birdman” Finch had it after until he retired and it was then retired itself when Smiths reduced the fleet size. I think there were about six of those Fodens “on the scrap line” to quote a steam loco phrase, at one time. I think the others are being driven by our colonial cousins now.
oiltreader:
Watson Petroleum at Redbridge last month, I remember their original depot at Oxpens I think it was.
Oily
Hi Eddie, Watson’s are still where they have been for many years out at Brize Norton, it was Flitwick Oil (Esso) that were down the Oxpens, I worked for them both over the years, both good jobs & nice places to work, Oxpens Depot closed 10+ years ago, site is now a College. When I was on Watsons at Brize there was only 5 Wagons based there, there’s now about 10! When Dads Mobil depot closed his best buddy on there Basil Cobb (ex-BRS Sandy Lane man like Dad) got a job as Yard Man at Flitwick, Oxpens for a few more years. Sadly Basil passed away few years back, when Dad was off work fighting Cancer Basil used to take me with him at weekends & all through the School hol’s etc so I could keep going on the Wagons, Mobil Botley Rd was my 2nd home 
. Thanks Bas’, RIP.
PS, just a note, as sadly the Big C takes so many, Dad was told at 1 point that he had 3 months to live, Mum said he said to the Doctor “Our 3 eldest have married, we still got 2 at home (my brother Phil & me) I not going anywhere til I seen them settled too!” this was his 2nd go round with it, but he dug in there & went on for another ‘23 years’, hard Old Bugger, East End Cockney born & bred & proud of it, different breed back then. The 3rd time it got him, pneumonia finished him, if I’m ever half the Man & Wagon driver he was then I will have done OK. Regards Chris
adr:
oiltreader:
Watson Petroleum at Redbridge last month, I remember their original depot at Oxpens I think it was.
OilyHi Eddie, Watson’s are still where they have been for many years out at Brize Norton, it was Flitwick Oil (Esso) that were down the Oxpens, I worked for them both over the years, both good jobs & nice places to work, Oxpens Depot closed 10+ years ago, site is now a College. When I was on Watsons at Brize there was only 5 Wagons based there, there’s now about 10! When Dads Mobil depot closed his best buddy on there Basil Cobb (ex-BRS Sandy Lane man like Dad) got a job as Yard Man at Flitwick, Oxpens for a few more years. Sadly Basil passed away few years back, when Dad was off work fighting Cancer Basil used to take me with him at weekends & all through the School hol’s etc so I could keep going on the Wagons, Mobil Botley Rd was my 2nd home
PS, just a note, as sadly the Big C takes so many, Dad was told at 1 point that he had 3 months to live, Mum said he said to the Doctor “Our 3 eldest have married, we still got 2 at home (my brother Phil & me) I not going anywhere til I seen them settled too!” this was his 2nd go round with it, but he dug in there & went on for another ‘23 years’, hard Old Bugger, East End Cockney born & bred & proud of it, different breed back then. The 3rd time it got him, pneumonia finished him, if I’m ever half the Man & Wagon driver he was then I will have done OK. Regards Chris
Worked with Basil, Billy Wells, Roy Taylor and your dad on the buses Chris and in touch with them on Mobil from time to time when I was on Progressive, Basil a quiet unassuming man, a gent, now as for your dad that would take me back to the driver’s canteen Cowley Rd and Charlie with his roll ups and of course no end of shrewd advice 
Eddie