PAUL GEE's PHOTO COLLECTION (Part 1)

[deanb]

bazztrucker:

BonkeyDollocks:

BonkeyDollocks:
Just had to repost this pic… I hope Paul doesn’t mind. When I saw it this morning, my eyes were out on stalks! It wouldn’t have been every day that a Hoveringham Mammoth Major loaded with Tarmac would’ve been chasing down an equally loaded Tilcon S80. If Paul sees this, can I ask where it was taken as my first thoughts were the AEC was based at Dene quarry Cromford Derbyshire while the Foden was from Ballidon quarry which is in the same area.

Of course I could be barking up the wrong tree entirely… But it’s a great thought and an even better photograph!

Well if the Foden WAS from Ballidon it would be PNU 70M which was the only S80 with a 220 Rolls engine we had and, judging by the single inlet stack, it is a Rolls engine. This was involved in a bad accident with a low lowder carrying a portaloo and the cab was rebuilt which might explain the missing Foden Kite on the grille? The Late Curtis ‘Bert’ Weston from Brassington drove it from new and did regular Scotch runs in it, always booking a night out but actually nighting out at his house in Brassington and coming in around 10 am telling us what fun he had in Morecambe the night before!! Nobody ever let on that they knew the truth. I rebuilt the engine in it and it was a decent truck.

Pete.

Nice one Windy. That only confirms the suspicion they lorries ARE Derbyshire based.
Surely there isn’t anywhere else in the country where this could have happened?
I have seen a pic a while back of a Mammoth eight based at Dene in the early 70s and as you say the S80 is mid 70s vintage.

Thanks also for the details buddy!

there is another place in the country where it could happen, Stowfield quarry & Rogers/ Whitecliff quarries in the forest of dean. Stowfield was hoveringham, and the other two were tilcon, ex manabell . cheers bazztrucker. sorry if this as already been said, but only just found this superb site!!!
[/quote]
Ok thanks for your comments “bazztrucker”

moomooland:
5Gilbraith Tankers were based in Accrington and a friend of mine the late Peter Davison drove for them for may years until he retired.

Peter took hundreds of photographs of Gilbraiths while he was there and over the years sent me many pictures a few of which are below.

4This Leyland Marathon 2 4X2 tractor unit Reg No YCK 84V was registered new to Gilbraiths in March 1980.
Powered by a Rolls Royce 265L engine and looking a little worse for wear it is seen here towards the end of it’s working life in Gilbraiths depot at Accrington in 1987.

3Leyland Marathon 4x2 tractor unit Reg No VFV 351V was registered new to Gilbraith Tankers on 7th of September 1979.

Pictured here in the depot at Clayton-le-Moors the driver in the cab is Stan Waddington, a long serving Gilbraith man, who had a stint as yard foreman at one stage.
The other driver on the left, also a long server, was Gordon Tattersall, who came from Ramsbottom.
The buildings behind at the time were in the process of being demolished to make way for the M65 Motorway which, when completed, would run adjacent to Gilbraiths yard.

0 The late Peter Davison’s ERF EC12 6X2 tractor unit Reg No P822 JYA pictured at Stornoway Airport on the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland after delivering a full load of anti-freeze that they used to spray directly onto the runway in frosty weather!

2Gilbraith Tankers Foden 3340 tractor unit Reg No P805 JBU is seen here in 1997 during a night time delivery to Robert McBrides at Middleton Manchester.

Driver, the late Peter Davison, had collected the load of soap from Albright & Wilson at Whitehaven.

1The introduction of the Foden’s didn’t really go down that well with some of Gilbraiths drivers.

Excellent contribution Paul, great pics thanks for posting.

Mike Ponsonby:
76 pages later
Brilliant photos Paul gee / Dean
ive been glued to this thread for the last 4 days
I hope theres plenty more of pauls pics still to come

Mike …

Thanks Mike ,Paul will be chuffed you are enjoying it ! If you have any pics that tie up with stuff
posted,stick them on !

240 Gardner:

moomooland:
The introduction of the Foden’s didn’t really go down that well with some of Gilbraiths drivers.

Mixed? It was positively hostile!

moomooland:

240 Gardner:

moomooland:
The introduction of the Foden’s didn’t really go down that well with some of Gilbraiths drivers.

Mixed? It was positively hostile!

Was it really that bad Chris?
1
Although on second thoughts maybe it was.
0

Nice pics !

Stanfield:
A couple of Duncan Hills Motors for robroy. transportphotos.com/road/photos
2
1

And one for Paul (moomooland)
.0

Thanks “Stanfield” for the pics !

kingswinford kit:
Cheers DEAN ,Trevor Oakley probably had about 20 Atki Borderers back then with a few ERFs ,he had the odd F86 Volvo .
Good to see the Ellis Morgan TM , was one of the oldest hauliers in S Wales , remember seeing the TM loading up at Bensens crisps Rogerstone a mate of mine had it for a while RCY692S ,they also had a D series Ford unit ex Christie Tyler . generally they were known for their Bedford Marsden vans in and out of Pikingtons ,great stuff DEAN ,regards Keith

Thanks Keith for te info so Oakley were a fairly big concern then !

Stanfield:

moomooland:

240 Gardner:

moomooland:
The introduction of the Foden’s didn’t really go down that well with some of Gilbraiths drivers.

Mixed? It was positively hostile!

Was it really that bad Chris?
0

Gilbraith were eventually taken over by Imperial Tankers who themselves were recently taken over by The Suttons Tanker Group.

Spud1960:

gazsa401:

moomooland:
5This is one of Tibbet & Britten’s hanging garment trailers.
In 1973 Marks & Spencer asked Tibbett & Britten to take over all of its hanging garment distribution for its stores and its suppliers, and to build a dedicated depot and distribution network to service this contract.
Tibbett & Britten agreed, and the company launched a division called Transcare, dedicated to its Marks & Spencer business.

Founded in 1958 by John Tibbett and Frank Britten they were taken over by Exel in 2004 who were themselves later absorbed by DHL.

I drove for Lowfield Distribution, on their Sainsburys contract at Middleton, and we were taken over by Tibbett & Britten in 1989.
4
3 This was one of a batch of 45 brand new Scania’a at the time that Tibbett & Britten ran on the contract out of the long gone Sainsbury’s Distribution Depot at Stakehill Middleton north of Manchester.
2Tibbett & Britten’s long gone Sainsbury’s Distribution Depot at Stakehill Middleton north of Manchester.
1Some trailers at Middleton were in Tibbett and Britten ‘Consumer Logistics’ livery.
0The good old days.

Just a little bit off trivial information
Lowfields were once part of the Imperial Tobacco empire who I worked for until last April when production ended in Nottingham after 127 years and was moved to Poland
Ending cigarette manufacturing in the U.K.

Imperial tobacco also owned Ross Foods, Nitrovit Animal feeds and I think Buxted Turkeys

Thanks “Spud1960” for your input !

[deanb]

moomooland:

Stanfield:
Gilbraith were eventually taken over by Imperial Tankers who themselves were recently taken over by The Suttons Tanker Group.

Think Gilbraiths had dealings with Suttons long before any take overs.

Here’s one of Sutton’s lurking in Gilbraiths yard at Accrington in 1985.

Heres another one of Suttons !

[deanb]

moomooland:

Spud1960:
Imperial tobacco also owned Ross Foods, Nitrovit Animal feeds and I think Buxted Turkeys

They also owned Golden Wonder Crisps.

Some more Golden Wonder trucks.

Click on pages twice to view.

[bewick]

I believe I can shed a bit more light on the Imperial Tobacco ownership of Ross/Youngs as it was right during the time we were traction contractors to Ross/ Youngs. Hanson took over Imperial as they were after their tobacco business and they had beaten United Biscuits for the takeover. However, Hanson didn’t want the Ross Youngs division so they eventually sold it to UB. I recall this period vividly as during the time Hanson owned the R/Y operation both investment and maintenance suffered. This was manifest in the unreliability of the fridge motors and I personally spent many hours at times in the depot during the night checking on the engines and temperatures ( - 22% ) I have had at times to couple up jump leads to one of our old Gardner shunt motors and leave it ticking over 'cause the batteries weren’t charging on the Thermo King. But we never lost a load during the time of the Hanson era and when UB took over everything slowly returned to normal ! Phew! Cheers Bewick.

[deanb]

Heres is a Crusader for Gilbraith Paul !

[moomooland]

Suttons founder Alf Sutton began trading in 1926.
Since then the company has developed nationally and globally.
Sutton’s has remained family owned throughout this time and members of the Sutton’s family are still very much involved in the business.
Today they form the majority of the Sutton’s Group Board and hold senior positions within the Group.

Alf Sutton after the company purchased the 10,000th chassis produced by Atkinson.

[deanb]

Bewick:
I believe I can shed a bit more light on the Imperial Tobacco ownership of Ross/Youngs as it was right during the time we were traction contractors to Ross/ Youngs. Hanson took over Imperial as they were after their tobacco business and they had beaten United Biscuits for the takeover. However, Hanson didn’t want the Ross Youngs division so they eventually sold it to UB. I recall this period vividly as during the time Hanson owned the R/Y operation both investment and maintenance suffered. This was manifest in the unreliability of the fridge motors and I personally spent many hours at times in the depot during the night checking on the engines and temperatures ( - 22% ) I have had at times to couple up jump leads to one of our old Gardner shunt motors and leave it ticking over 'cause the batteries weren’t charging on the Thermo King. But we never lost a load during the time of the Hanson era and when UB took over everything slowly returned to normal ! Phew! Cheers Bewick.

Here’s another one Dennis,thanks for your comments and photos !

[bewick]

moomooland:
1Suttons founder Alf Sutton began trading in 1926.
Since then the company has developed nationally and globally.
Sutton’s has remained family owned throughout this time and members of the Sutton’s family are still very much involved in the business.
Today they form the majority of the Sutton’s Group Board and hold senior positions within the Group.
0Alf Sutton after the cmpany purchased Atkinsons 10,000th chassis.

Now there is a “top” man in the transport world “The Alf” didn’t take any bollox from anybody ! One of his Fleet engineers shot himself IIRC at Birch Services ! and I know of another Fleet engineer who was chewing a full bottle of soluble asprins per day before he finally “resigned” Alf just looks the part in that shot doesn’t he ! the bloke next to him is Atkis Sales Director ■■? Caunt IIRC. Those were the days ! Bewick.

[deanb]

moomooland:
Suttons founder Alf Sutton began trading in 1926.
Since then the company has developed nationally and globally.
Sutton’s has remained family owned throughout this time and members of the Sutton’s family are still very much involved in the business.
Today they form the majority of the Sutton’s Group Board and hold senior positions within the Group.
Alf Sutton after the company purchased the 10,000th chassis produced by Atkinson.

Brilliant stuff Paul, thanks for the info / pics !

Heres and advert with one of there Atkinsons !

Click on page twice to read.

[bewick]

DEANB:

Bewick:
I believe I can shed a bit more light on the Imperial Tobacco ownership of Ross/Youngs as it was right during the time we were traction contractors to Ross/ Youngs. Hanson took over Imperial as they were after their tobacco business and they had beaten United Biscuits for the takeover. However, Hanson didn’t want the Ross Youngs division so they eventually sold it to UB. I recall this period vividly as during the time Hanson owned the R/Y operation both investment and maintenance suffered. This was manifest in the unreliability of the fridge motors and I personally spent many hours at times in the depot during the night checking on the engines and temperatures ( - 22% ) I have had at times to couple up jump leads to one of our old Gardner shunt motors and leave it ticking over 'cause the batteries weren’t charging on the Thermo King. But we never lost a load during the time of the Hanson era and when UB took over everything slowly returned to normal ! Phew! Cheers Bewick.
4
3
2
1

Here’s another one Dennis,thanks for your comments and photos !

0

We probably pulled that trailer often Dean ! When we started traction work for R/Y they had an “in house” fleet of 96 tractor units and they cut it to 48 with changing to traction contracts ! and they moved more product apparently ! Cheers Dennis.

[bewick]

I’ll tell you another tale about Suttons -v- Bewick !!! I believed I had bought a new ERF “A” Series unit in Dec’75 via a Com/Motor advert, a 180LXB/DB 6:600/Eaton Axle from HLH Norwich ( Paid for cheque cleared!) When the chassis turned up early one morning via delivery driver ( Who’d hit a pheasant which he took back with him!) it was a 180LXB/Fuller 6909/Kirkstall D85 !! Problem !! but this delivery guy wasn’t waiting so he got a lift back to J 36 !. So when I rang HLH to question this chassis they said Oh! sorry Mr Smith but Suttons demanded the other chassis so we thought you wouldn’t mind the one we sent you !! As it happened the spec was actually more to my liking and it turned out a great little motor, far better than a DB 6:600 spec, and it would have been the one I would have chosen if they had given me the choice ! The only draw back was the diff ratio it was far to low. But how I dealt with this at the ERF Service Centre at Middlewhich is another story but just as interesting. Cheers Dennis.

[moomooland]

Buckley Tankers of Warrington were bought out by Reliance Tankers of Sale Manchester who in turn were swallowed up into the Transport Development Group ‘Linkman’.

In 1980 Buckley Tankers changed their livery to this Red with Yellow decal livery.

Buckley’s depot which was at Warrington.
Photograph courtesy of Rob Cheetham.

[me_paul_101]

The photo of the yard was Ashton Sawmills on Hadnock Road at the bottom of Staunton Road just before you get to Monmouth. Our dad worked there back in the '70’s on the spanners etc. He had the job of servicing the pulleys on that crane after it was lowered among countless other things. Pity its all gone now and the site is part of a school now…

.This is what it looks like now…

[stanfield]

moomooland:

Stanfield:
Gilbraith were eventually taken over by Imperial Tankers who themselves were recently taken over by The Suttons Tanker Group.

Think Gilbraiths had dealings with Suttons long before any take overs.

0Here’s one of Sutton’s lurking in Gilbraiths yard at Accrington in 1985.

Most independent Tanker companies had dealings with Suttons especially on GP work Sadlers used to do lots of Caustic for them at one time from Hays at Sandbach and ICI/Ineos Runcorn

[moomooland]

Bewick:
I believe I can shed a bit more light on the Imperial Tobacco ownership of Ross/Youngs as it was right during the time we were traction contractors to Ross/ Youngs. Hanson took over Imperial as they were after their tobacco business and they had beaten United Biscuits for the takeover. However, Hanson didn’t want the Ross Youngs division so they eventually sold it to UB. I recall this period vividly as during the time Hanson owned the R/Y operation both investment and maintenance suffered.

In 1986 the Imperial Group was acquired by Hanson Trust plc for £2.5billion.

Asset stripping during the period that followed by Hanson included Courage Brewery to Elders, Golden Wonder to Dalgety, Finlays to Arunbhai J. Patel, the wholesaling arm of Sinclair & Collis to Palmer & Harvey, Imperial Hotels and Catering to Trust House Forte and, as you say Dennis, Ross Frozen Foods to United Biscuits.

I was at Lowfield’s at the time and due to non investment by Hanson we were still running an entire fleet of these 10 year old X reg ERF ‘C’ Series tractor units in 1991 on the Sainsbury contract and on top of that we got well and truly shafted with our pension.
In fact by the time Hanson had sold everything else off within the Imperial Group they finished up with the core tobacco company for nothing, which is all they wanted in the first place.

[mushroomman]

That’s not Brian Walsh in that photo is it Paul.

[moomooland]

mushroomman:
That’s not Brian Walsh in that photo is it Paul.

No Steve it’s Tony May at Hartshead Moor with a frozen windscreen washer bottle.

Here’s another shot taken at Chester store courtesy of pyewacket947 on Flickr
Those ERF ‘C’ Series Gardner 6LXCT 230 turbo engined tractor units must have payed for themselves over and over, as like i said above, we ran them for 10 years.

[deanb]

Bewick:
I believe I can shed a bit more light on the Imperial Tobacco ownership of Ross/Youngs as it was right during the time we were traction contractors to Ross/ Youngs. Hanson took over Imperial as they were after their tobacco business and they had beaten United Biscuits for the takeover. However, Hanson didn’t want the Ross Youngs division so they eventually sold it to UB. I recall this period vividly as during the time Hanson owned the R/Y operation both investment and maintenance suffered. This was manifest in the unreliability of the fridge motors and I personally spent many hours at times in the depot during the night checking on the engines and temperatures ( - 22% ) I have had at times to couple up jump leads to one of our old Gardner shunt motors and leave it ticking over 'cause the batteries weren’t charging on the Thermo King. But we never lost a load during the time of the Hanson era and when UB took over everything slowly returned to normal ! Phew! Cheers Bewick.
3
2
1
0

Thanks for that comment Dennis and great pics as always !

Bewick:

moomooland:
1Suttons founder Alf Sutton began trading in 1926.
Since then the company has developed nationally and globally.
Sutton’s has remained family owned throughout this time and members of the Sutton’s family are still very much involved in the business.
Today they form the majority of the Sutton’s Group Board and hold senior positions within the Group.
0Alf Sutton after the cmpany purchased Atkinsons 10,000th chassis.

Now there is a “top” man in the transport world “The Alf” didn’t take any bollox from anybody ! One of his Fleet engineers shot himself IIRC at Birch Services ! and I know of another Fleet engineer who was chewing a full bottle of soluble asprins per day before he finally “resigned” Alf just looks the part in that shot doesn’t he ! the bloke next to him is Atkis Sales Director ■■? Caunt IIRC. Those were the days ! Bewick.

Dont know much about him Dennis but it doesnt sound like he looked after his staff
too well !!

Bewick:

DEANB:

Bewick:
I believe I can shed a bit more light on the Imperial Tobacco ownership of Ross/Youngs as it was right during the time we were traction contractors to Ross/ Youngs. Hanson took over Imperial as they were after their tobacco business and they had beaten United Biscuits for the takeover. However, Hanson didn’t want the Ross Youngs division so they eventually sold it to UB. I recall this period vividly as during the time Hanson owned the R/Y operation both investment and maintenance suffered. This was manifest in the unreliability of the fridge motors and I personally spent many hours at times in the depot during the night checking on the engines and temperatures ( - 22% ) I have had at times to couple up jump leads to one of our old Gardner shunt motors and leave it ticking over 'cause the batteries weren’t charging on the Thermo King. But we never lost a load during the time of the Hanson era and when UB took over everything slowly returned to normal ! Phew! Cheers Bewick.
4
3
2
1

Here’s another one Dennis,thanks for your comments and photos !

0

We probably pulled that trailer often Dean ! When we started traction work for R/Y they had an “in house” fleet of 96 tractor units and they cut it to 48 with changing to traction contracts ! and they moved more product apparently ! Cheers Dennis.

Thanks again Dennis for your input,they were a big old outfit then with 96 units !

Bewick:
I’ll tell you another tale about Suttons -v- Bewick !!! I believed I had bought a new ERF “A” Series unit in Dec’75 via a Com/Motor advert, a 180LXB/DB 6:600/Eaton Axle from HLH Norwich ( Paid for cheque cleared!) When the chassis turned up early one morning via delivery driver ( Who’d hit a pheasant which he took back with him!) it was a 180LXB/Fuller 6909/Kirkstall D85 !! Problem !! but this delivery guy wasn’t waiting so he got a lift back to J 36 !. So when I rang HLH to question this chassis they said Oh! sorry Mr Smith but Suttons demanded the other chassis so we thought you wouldn’t mind the one we sent you !! As it happened the spec was actually more to my liking and it turned out a great little motor, far better than a DB 6:600 spec, and it would have been the one I would have chosen if they had given me the choice ! The only draw back was the diff ratio it was far to low. But how I dealt with this at the ERF Service Centre at Middlewhich is another story but just as interesting. Cheers Dennis.

You are in top form Dennis !! Nice little story at least it worked out better for you !
Tell us the story about the ERF service centre ■■?

moomooland:
3Buckley Tankers of Warrington were bought out by Reliance Tankers of Sale Manchester who in turn were swallowed up into the Transport Development Group ‘Linkman’.
2
1In 1980 Buckley Tankers changed their livery to this Red with Yellow decal livery.
0Buckley’s depot which was at Warrington.
Photograph courtesy of Rob Cheetham.

Great input and photos again Paul, thanks for posting !

Me.Paul.101:
The photo of the yard was Ashton Sawmills on Hadnock Road at the bottom of Staunton Road just before you get to Monmouth. Our dad worked there back in the '70’s on the spanners etc. He had the job of servicing the pulleys on that crane after it was lowered among countless other things. Pity its all gone now and the site is part of a school now…0.This is what it looks like now…

Thanks for your input “Paul”

Stanfield:

moomooland:

Stanfield:
Gilbraith were eventually taken over by Imperial Tankers who themselves were recently taken over by The Suttons Tanker Group.

Think Gilbraiths had dealings with Suttons long before any take overs.

0Here’s one of Sutton’s lurking in Gilbraiths yard at Accrington in 1985.

Most independent Tanker companies had dealings with Suttons especially on GP work Sadlers used to do lots of Caustic for them at one time from Hays at Sandbach and ICI/Ineos Runcorn

Thanks for your comment “Stanfield”

moomooland:

Bewick:
I believe I can shed a bit more light on the Imperial Tobacco ownership of Ross/Youngs as it was right during the time we were traction contractors to Ross/ Youngs. Hanson took over Imperial as they were after their tobacco business and they had beaten United Biscuits for the takeover. However, Hanson didn’t want the Ross Youngs division so they eventually sold it to UB. I recall this period vividly as during the time Hanson owned the R/Y operation both investment and maintenance suffered.

In 1986 the Imperial Group was acquired by Hanson Trust plc for £2.5billion.

Asset stripping during the period that followed by Hanson included Courage Brewery to Elders, Golden Wonder to Dalgety, Finlays to Arunbhai J. Patel, the wholesaling arm of Sinclair & Collis to Palmer & Harvey, Imperial Hotels and Catering to Trust House Forte and, as you say Dennis, Ross Frozen Foods to United Biscuits.
0I was at Lowfield’s at the time and due to non investment by Hanson we were still running an entire fleet of these 10 year old X reg ERF ‘C’ Series tractor units in 1991 on the Sainsbury contract and on top of that we got well and truly shafted with our pension.
In fact by the time Hanson had sold everything else off within the Imperial Group they finished up with the core tobacco company for nothing, which is all they wanted in the first place.

Another good input Paul !

mushroomman:
That’s not Brian Walsh in that photo is it Paul.

0

moomooland:

mushroomman:
That’s not Brian Walsh in that photo is it Paul.

No Steve it’s Tony May at Hartshead Moor with a frozen windscreen washer bottle.

0Here’s another shot taken at Chester store courtesy of pyewacket947 on Flickr
Those ERF ‘C’ Series Gardner 6LXCT 230 turbo engined tractor units must have payed for themselves over and over, as like i said above, we ran them for 10 years.

Like you say Paul they certainly got there moneys worth out of those ERF’s.

[deanb]

Heres a few pics of Buckley tankers.

Click on pages twice to read.

[deanb]

D & N Morgan Seddon Atkinson.

W Baker Tetbury Ltd Transcon.

Saunder’s ERF

Anyone recognise the F10 ■■?

Woodcocks F88 overtaking Humber Mc Veig Atkinson.Wish motorways were empty like that now !

J & H inchcliffe ERF

Carrington Viyella Ltd ERF with demount body.

British Salt Seddon 200

Nields & Timmis Transport, ERF

Koopmanns ERF. There really are some strange haulier names about !