Buzzer:
Dont 4get the clocks spring forward 1 hour 2nite, the last five are from Australia what do you know DIG, Buzzer
Sime of the trucks of various pedigree pictured Buzzer would have been working on the Snowy Mountains Scheme which started soon after the second world war finished and was completed in 1974.
We arrived in 1969 in Perth but knew very little about it as we were over 3000 kms away and at that time the main eastern hwy from Western Oz to the eastern states was still only partially sealed.
I.m unable to transfer google information re the project but I.m sure DeanB will come to the rescue on this.
Buzzer:
Dont 4get the clocks spring forward 1 hour 2nite, the last five are from Australia what do you know DIG, Buzzer
Sime of the trucks of various pedigree pictured Buzzer would have been working on the Snowy Mountains Scheme which started soon after the second world war finished and was completed in 1974.
Dig
I knew all about it, being in New South as well as elsewhere at the time, but never had anything to do with it.
We arrived in 1969 in Perth but knew very little about it as we were over 3000 kms away and at that time the main eastern hwy from Western Oz to the eastern states was still only partially sealed.
Who needs sealed roads and trucks Dig, when you have a perfectly good railway line which was in fact long built and being renewed at the time. Only joking, but, it was in my knowledge because the Co-Ord flat A-triples called in at our place in Katherine for diesel on their way north to complete the line for the Ghan. The rails they carried from the Nullabor (so I was told) over hung the trailers which was fine in a straight line, but clanged together quite alarmingly as they snaked round to our pumps. I was worried that the chains would snap and kept my distance but the drivers had no such worries, after all there was nothing, apart from laziness, to stop them from dropping the trailers on the highway and running round for the fillup with the units.
Froggy55:
0Just found this one on a French forum. Probably the driver was busy with his smartphone, and it seems that the structure of the building is damaged, with a big crack above the shops. Would some of you have an idea about the place where it happened? UK or USA? Thanks.
The law’s uniform looks like it could be Ireland or NI.
Froggy55:
0Just found this one on a French forum. Probably the driver was busy with his smartphone, and it seems that the structure of the building is damaged, with a big crack above the shops. Would some of you have an idea about the place where it happened? UK or USA? Thanks.
The law’s uniform looks like it could be Ireland or NI.
Thanks to servo88, Buzzer, Froggy55, Punchy Dan, Dennis Javelin and Suedehead for the photos also Kempston for the link
Oily
On the A76 home ground of T French and Sons with the town of ■■■■■■■ in the background.
I get the gist of what he’s saying but his figures are misleading. The £100 he’s charging is of no interest to anyone other than his customer and the government. He’s charging £84 - the government is charging the VAT. If he’s spending £42.00 for fuel on a job that only pays £84 then he’s not very good at what he does which brings me on to my next point.
A quick search brings up the fact that he’s a 70yr old lawyer who, on the face of it, appears to be suggesting that he’s some kind of self employed tradesman when he couldn’t be further from that. £100 wouldn’t get you 15 mins of his time - if even that. Does every job he undertakes cost him £42 in fuel?
Not having a go at you Buzzer but people like this really grind my gears. I’d have sympathy for him if he was a struggling haulier trying to make ends meet but he’s not. He seems to me to be a typically disgruntled and attention seeking person who probably sees writing banal letters as a way of improving his feeling of self importance - as, in my humble opinion, are most people who write letters like this to the press. The press however actively encourage letter writing of this standard and are not above printing letters from fictitious people in order to start a discussion. I don’t know if they still do it but the Daily Telegraph were particularly fond of this approach some years ago when they would print a “letter to the editor” purporting to come from some retired Major General, normally from Tunbridge Wells, who would be complaining about all sorts of things no matter how spurious or bogus. If Mr Sayer presented evidence like this to a court he’d be laughed out of the door.
Froggy55:
0Just found this one on a French forum. Probably the driver was busy with his smartphone, and it seems that the structure of the building is damaged, with a big crack above the shops. Would some of you have an idea about the place where it happened? UK or USA? Thanks.
The signage on the building to the right looks like " Courage xxxxx Ales & Stout " Cheers, Mines a pint. Ray Smyth.
That wrecker looks American to me complete with a long serial number on door which the USAF loved to use,so could it be East Anglia near an American base and driver drove on wrong side of road.It happened quite often around Lakenheath and Mildenhall
when USAF personnel temp forgot to drive on left.
Just a thought…
Froggy55:
0Just found this one on a French forum. Probably the driver was busy with his smartphone, and it seems that the structure of the building is damaged, with a big crack above the shops. Would some of you have an idea about the place where it happened? UK or USA? Thanks.
The signage on the building to the right looks like " Courage xxxxx Ales & Stout " Cheers, Mines a pint. Ray Smyth.
That wrecker looks American to me complete with a long serial number on door which the USAF loved to use,so could it be East Anglia near an American base and driver drove on wrong side of road.It happened quite often around Lakenheath and Mildenhall
when USAF personnel temp forgot to drive on left.
Just a thought…
You might have a point there Chris, many years ago I was driving my old Atki south in the area of Upper Heyford when I found myself gaining on a little old Ford van. The driver seemed to be confused and speeded up, slowed down and wandered a bit in the road, obviously deep in discussion with his passenger. Eventually he slowed right down and pulled into the verge so, nothing coming ahead, I siezed my chance and accelerated past. Just as I got alongside he suddenly put his foot down and swerved into my path heading for the Upper Heyford turn coming up to the right. I couldn’t avoid him and caught him with the end of the crash bar (Mk1) just behind the driver’s door, the car was swung round across my front and all I could see was the roof bouncing up and down as I pushed him sideways to the opposite verge.
Within minutes the American military police were on the scene and were very stern with them while being very considerate to me, constantly asking me if I was OK. The driver meanwhile, still in shock, was leaning against the door of the van and shakily lighting a cigarette. Problem was, the the end of my crash bar had pierced the body and ripped off the filler cap from which the smell of petrol was emitting. Everybody headed for the hills so to speak, as he, match in hand gaped in amazement until finally getting the message and joining us in flight.
A follow up to this was that, much later than the Yanks, a British police car arrived and they concentrated much more on my supposed (in their eyes) guilt but eventually settled for a written statement before letting me on my way. To do this they decided to park at a layby just down the road. While they wrote everything down they left all their lights on, heads, hazards blues etc., but switched the igniton off. When the time came to part their bloody battery was flat and the offsider and I had to push him to get started. 2 very red faced policemen. I laughed all the way to Southampton.
Froggy55:
0Just found this one on a French forum. Probably the driver was busy with his smartphone, and it seems that the structure of the building is damaged, with a big crack above the shops. Would some of you have an idea about the place where it happened? UK or USA? Thanks.
The signage on the building to the right looks like " Courage xxxxx Ales & Stout " Cheers, Mines a pint. Ray Smyth.
That wrecker looks American to me complete with a long serial number on door which the USAF loved to use,so could it be East Anglia near an American base and driver drove on wrong side of road.It happened quite often around Lakenheath and Mildenhall
when USAF personnel temp forgot to drive on left.
Just a thought…
So we have possibly an American driver, snow/ice on the road, a Courage boozer and International Stores. I believe that Courage at the time of the pic (40’s/early 50’s?) was mainly a London based brewer (in Bermondsey, they later took over H&G Simmonds in Reading in the 60’s and extended outwards from London) and International Stores were also mainly in the London area at that time. We may get there eventually!
You might be right Chris.
I can’t quite make out those two letters on the door is it CH and wasn’t there a U.S.A.F. base at CHicksands near Bedford I.I.R.C.
I am sure that there is a Trucknet member who drove for the U.S.Forces in the U.K. for many years but at the moment I can’t think of his username. Perhaps he might know something about that number and could that be an Interflora shop in the back ground.
mushroomman:
You might be right Chris.
I can’t quite make out those two letters on the door is it CH and wasn’t there a U.S.A.F. base at CHicksands near Bedford I.I.R.C.
I am sure that there is a Trucknet member who drove for the U.S.Forces in the U.K. for many years but at the moment I can’t think of his username. Perhaps he might know something about that number and could that be an Interflora shop in the back ground.
Yes Steve,Chicksands was a USAF base,I remember it when I was doing my bit.
Froggy55:
Just found this one on a French forum. Probably the driver was busy with his smartphone, and it seems that the structure of the building is damaged, with a big crack above the shops. Would some of you have an idea about the place where it happened? UK or USA? Thanks.
The signage on the building to the right looks like " Courage xxxxx Ales & Stout " Cheers, Mines a pint. Ray Smyth.
That wrecker looks American to me complete with a long serial number on door which the USAF loved to use,so could it be East Anglia near an American base and driver drove on wrong side of road.It happened quite often around Lakenheath and Mildenhall
when USAF personnel temp forgot to drive on left.
Just a thought…
So we have possibly an American driver, snow/ice on the road, a Courage boozer and International Stores. I believe that Courage at the time of the pic (40’s/early 50’s?) was mainly a London based brewer (in Bermondsey, they later took over H&G Simmonds in Reading in the 60’s and extended outwards from London) and International Stores were also mainly in the London area at that time. We may get there eventually!
The Be-Ro Bedford brought back memories of when we towed one of their TJ’s in with our Austin Gypsy, the driver insisted on keeping the brakes on to keep the tow chain taught but we were struggling to pull it. We told the driver to ease off of the brake a little; next set of traffic lights we stopped and he didn’t! Result one new bonnet and front panel required! Then we stopped at another junction and a chap decided to cross the road between the two vehicles, he looked rather angry when he got up from the ground but we were on our way by then.
Only joking, but, it was in my knowledge because the Co-Ord flat A-triples called in at our place in Katherine for diesel on their way north to complete the line for the Ghan. The rails they carried from the Nullabor (so I was told) over hung the trailers which was fine in a straight line, but clanged together quite alarmingly as they snaked round to our pumps. I was worried that the chains would snap and kept my distance but the drivers had no such worries, after all there was nothing, apart from laziness, to stop them from dropping the trailers on the highway and running round for the fillup with the units. 
and wasn’t there a U.S.A.F. base at CHicksands near Bedford I.I.R.C.
