Interesting shot that of a unit that has never figured on my memory. However there is a tale to relate about it ! It was an old but well maintained unit I bought off my long gone pal Curly Cargill in around 1980 or so to use as a taxed shunter in Milnthorpe. It was driven by our Foreman shunter George “Tonka” Wightman to load trailers in the Libby factory next door as well running trailers up and down from the Paper Mill at Beetham. At finishing time Tonka went home with the unit as he lived only about 3 miles away . The ERF was new to Curly in around 1968 and it had the 180LXB engine and Curly was a big Cummins man as his first two units he bought in 1966 had the Cummins 180 engines and he was a dyed in the wool Cummins operator throughout his time. I sold the unit for scrap eventually for £500 cash to my old Pal Dan Lowther ( RIP) from Ulverston.
Cheers Dennis - I wondered why it had Super Tonka on the front!
Ear,fore arm and thigh, all on the right hand side. Years of driving in shorts and shortsleeved shirts with my elbow out of the window. Never been sunburnt. Sunnies also reduce the chances of cataracts.
I’ve seen this shot previously “ramone” and it is at the old Mayfield Cafe on the A6 at Garstang facing south. These were two of Bradys Beavers ,fairly new by the looks of them. They were both coupled to tanks and would be on their way to the ICI plant at Hillhouse near Blackpool to load Acid for return to British Cellophane at Barrow. These two tanks ran on double shift on this job and they were on Contract licences for BCL. Unit details as follows ——- AEO 494C new in Jan ‘65 & BEO 46C new in April ‘65 this shot could be before the M6 between J33 and J32 was joined up but I’m not sure on that one !
You can tell it was ex Curly Cargill by the coach lines on the O/S bottom of the cab but it looks like it has had some accident damage repaired om the N/S bottom panel . As it was only the local shunter never to leave Milnthorpe I didn’t bother lettering it up I just had the white band sprayed around it and slapped the big BEWICK across it’s fron !
I’ve been to the ICI works at Hillhouse Lane many years ago with my dad when he worked at Harold Woods.I had to wait in the gatehouse for obvious reasons but still a different world to today.I think Chris Webb (remember him?) was a regular there.Then around ten years ago we started taking waste up there the place had been totally demolished and part of it was a landfill I don’t know how they got away with it because it was right at the side of a caravan park and the waste we delivered stank.
I certainly do, had many an interesting conversation with him on here, do you know if he is still around?
Hub reduction explained, an education for me personally.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1667026864021533
When I left school in 1963 I worked at a tipper firm as an apprentice mechanic that had mostly S type Bedford tippers. At least once a week a driver would break a half shaft at one of the collieries usually around lunch time. The collieries had good cheep cafeteria’s so when I and the mechanic went to make repairs we would always frequent the cafe’ but then the fateful day arrived when the firm bought some new Albion LAD tippers with hub reduction axles.. As the S types went away so did our dinners.
Surprised not to see traffic lights on the door, especially with that length!
He’s not on here but still around. Another loss for this site
I was screwing up my face when I knew he was overcooking that first attempt, but not snooty about it in the least, one shunt with a B-Double is fair enough.
But I am surprised that they don’t have full through loading although a bit more complicated with stepframes. When I first introduced wagons and drags at Toray I had a very strong plate especially made and with doors front and back on the boxes the job was much quicker.
Haven’t been hearing from GOM recently, anybody in touch?
Well i thought our place couldn’t get any worse but today … well see what you think.I pulled on the weighbridge at one of our yards and was directed to the top of the yard to load.Once loaded i went back on the weighbridge and was greeted by a freindly gentleman with a pad and a pen.He said he needed to check my vehicle i told him i was from another depot but he said he must check it ok .I was told by the weighbridge operator that i was overloaded so i returned to the loading point.This was after i had been given a clean bill of health licence checks and all.So i had some weight removed and back to the weighbridge where i was greeted by the same bloke.I need to check your vehicle ….. you’ve just checked it …. no no no i need to check your vehicle we are all part of the same group (you speak for yourself was in my head) and this went on for quite a few seconds until i got out and pointed to the number plate.Oh yes i’ve checked you already i thought i recognised you.FFS who on earth employed this guy and why me all the time
It could have been worse. It could have been me. 