PAUL GEE's PHOTO COLLECTION (Part 1)

[deanb]

BOC Freighter with a Marina shed behind.

Anyone recognise the Routeman ■■ Think we had one on before.

McCarthy & Stone Maggie tipper.

The Iveco would have been rented from the Iveco dealer that was literally a few hundred yards away from the Royal Mail
Sorting office at Poole.

Anyone recognise the Iveco tanker ■■

The dreaded white ! Anyone recognise the Roadtrain ■■

Dentressangle Renault. They were huge at one time and i think had around 5,000 motors at there peak.

CBS DAF 1900. Not sure where they were from ?

Anyone recognise the Scania seen here on the M54 ■■

Safeway Volvo.

[windrush]

I remember talking to a Dentressangle driver at Toddington services a few years ago, probably late 80’s at a guess, the poor chap didn’t look like he had slept or shaved for a week and he said that this would be his last trip with them as they were given journey times that they had very little chance of keeping to legally and the pay was poor with it. They were everywhere at one time though…and then suddenly they were gone!

Pete.

[maggied]

windrush:
I remember talking to a Dentressangle driver at Toddington services a few years ago, probably late 80’s at a guess, the poor chap didn’t look like he had slept or shaved for a week and he said that this would be his last trip with them as they were given journey times that they had very little chance of keeping to legally and the pay was poor with it. They were everywhere at one time though…and then suddenly they were gone!

Pete.

Hi Pete,

They got bought out by XPO Logistics a massive American firm with over 100,000 employee’s in June 2015,several depots in the UK.

Regards
Richard

[buzzer]

MaggieD:

windrush:
I remember talking to a Dentressangle driver at Toddington services a few years ago, probably late 80’s at a guess, the poor chap didn’t look like he had slept or shaved for a week and he said that this would be his last trip with them as they were given journey times that they had very little chance of keeping to legally and the pay was poor with it. They were everywhere at one time though…and then suddenly they were gone!

Pete.

Hi Pete,

They got bought out by XPO Logistics a massive American firm with over 100,000 employee’s in June 2015,several depots in the UK.

Regards
Richard

Hey up Richard, the boys were going to have a go at that buy out but I stopped them as I never liked Renault trucks

[dave_docwra]

DEANB:
CBS DAF 1900. Not sure where they were from ?

CBS are a wholesalers based in Garmin Road, Tottenham.

Dave…

[paul_john]

Hi Dean. The Atkinson’s pulling the tippers belong to Williams Brothers of Trethomas.
Long gone, but worked out of Bedwas and Nantgarw collieries. One of those plants did coke iirc.
Great photos.
Paul

[chris_webb]

Paul John:
Hi Dean. The Atkinson’s pulling the tippers belong to Williams Brothers of Trethomas.
Long gone, but worked out of Bedwas and Nantgarw collieries. One of those plants did coke iirc.
Great photos.
Paul

They both had coke batteries Paul John,I loaded crude benzene out of both Bedwas and Nantgarw by-products plants for Bitmac Llanwern int early 70s.Bedwas was a real old fashioned site,traffic controlled by a bloke with flags.

[paul_john]

Hi Chris. I wasn’t sure about the coke side. Thanks for the info. Bedwas was quite old as I remember it as a kid, very dark almost a scary place. An uncle of mine worked there for many years and retired when it closed, always proud to say he was a collier.
An industry that once employed so many people, just a memory now.

[tastrucker]

DEANB:
BOC Freighter with a Marina shed behind.

9

Anyone recognise the Routeman ■■ Think we had one on before.

8

McCarthy & Stone Maggie tipper.

7

The Iveco would have been rented from the Iveco dealer that was literally a few hundred yards away from the Royal Mail
Sorting office at Poole.

6

Anyone recognise the Iveco tanker ■■

5

The dreaded white ! Anyone recognise the Roadtrain ■■

4

Dentressangle Renault. They were huge at one time and i think had around 5,000 motors at there peak.

3

CBS DAF 1900. Not sure where they were from ?

2

Anyone recognise the Scania seen here on the M54 ■■

1

Safeway Volvo.

0

Hello DEAN ,the Scania on the M54 is A E Evans Bishops Castle Shropshire ,in that Atkinson mix the one pulling coils with a sleeper cab is ex Trevor morris Oswestry , he was a big Atkinson user ,his 2 sons Phillip and Andrew took over when he passed away and traded as P & A haulage ,and that Atkinson was probably in their fleet ,thank you Trevor

[chris_webb]

Paul John:
Hi Chris. I wasn’t sure about the coke side. Thanks for the info. Bedwas was quite old as I remember it as a kid, very dark almost a scary place. An uncle of mine worked there for many years and retired when it closed, always proud to say he was a collier.
An industry that once employed so many people, just a memory now.

When we went in to load crude benzene,you went down a very steep hill,turned left at bottom,then backed across and alongside a high grass bank with a 2" pipe sticking out,that was yours for about 2 hours. When loaded,you pulled yer Mammoth Major out and waited for yer man at top of hill to wave a green flag,select crawler and give it some boot up t’hill and onto weighbridge.
Wish I’d got photos Paul…Nantgarw weren’t much better,but Cwm,GKN Eastmoors,SCOW 1 and 2 were ok.

[deanb]

windrush:
I remember talking to a Dentressangle driver at Toddington services a few years ago, probably late 80’s at a guess, the poor chap didn’t look like he had slept or shaved for a week and he said that this would be his last trip with them as they were given journey times that they had very little chance of keeping to legally and the pay was poor with it. They were everywhere at one time though…and then suddenly they were gone!

Pete.

There were alot of companies running like that back then Pete !

MaggieD:
“windrush”

Hi Pete,

They got bought out by XPO Logistics a massive American firm with over 100,000 employee’s in June 2015,several depots in the UK.

Regards
Richard

I could not remember what happened to them Richard so thanks for that comment. Can remember waiting to catch ferries and
it was nothing to see 10 of theirs roll off the ferry you were waiting to load on.

Buzzer:
“MaggieD”]

Hi Pete,

They got bought out by XPO Logistics a massive American firm with over 100,000 employee’s in June 2015,several depots in the UK.

Regards
Richard

Hey up Richard, the boys were going to have a go at that buy out but I stopped them as I never liked Renault trucks

dave docwra:
“DEANB”
CBS DAF 1900. Not sure where they were from ?

CBS are a wholesalers based in Garmin Road, Tottenham.

Dave…

Cheers Dave.

Paul John:
Hi Dean. The Atkinson’s pulling the tippers belong to Williams Brothers of Trethomas.
Long gone, but worked out of Bedwas and Nantgarw collieries. One of those plants did coke iirc.
Great photos.
Paul

Thanks for the comments Paul,good stuff.

Chris Webb:
“Paul John” Hi Dean. The Atkinson’s pulling the tippers belong to Williams Brothers of Trethomas.
Long gone, but worked out of Bedwas and Nantgarw collieries. One of those plants did coke iirc.
Great photos.
Paul

They both had coke batteries Paul John,I loaded crude benzene out of both Bedwas and Nantgarw by-products plants for Bitmac Llanwern int early 70s.Bedwas was a real old fashioned site,traffic controlled by a bloke with flags.

Sounds like an airport Chris with regard to the flags.

tastrucker:
“DEANB”

Anyone recognise the Scania seen here on the M54 ■■

Hello DEAN ,the Scania on the M54 is A E Evans Bishops Castle Shropshire ,in that Atkinson mix the one pulling coils with a sleeper cab is ex Trevor morris Oswestry , he was a big Atkinson user ,his 2 sons Phillip and Andrew took over when he passed away and traded as P & A haulage ,and that Atkinson was probably in their fleet ,thank you Trevor

Thanks for the name Trevor,good stuff chap.

Chris Webb:
"Paul John"Hi Chris. I wasn’t sure about the coke side. Thanks for the info. Bedwas was quite old as I remember it as a kid, very dark almost a scary place. An uncle of mine worked there for many years and retired when it closed, always proud to say he was a collier.
An industry that once employed so many people, just a memory now.

When we went in to load crude benzene,you went down a very steep hill,turned left at bottom,then backed across and alongside a high grass bank with a 2" pipe sticking out,that was yours for about 2 hours. When loaded,you pulled yer Mammoth Major out and waited for yer man at top of hill to wave a green flag,select crawler and give it some boot up t’hill and onto weighbridge.
Wish I’d got photos Paul…Nantgarw weren’t much better,but Cwm,GKN Eastmoors,SCOW 1 and 2 were ok.

I think most people on here wish they had taken photos Chris.

[deanb]

Some oldies.

[deanb]

Courage Seddon Atkinson.

Someone may recognise the reg on the Volvo ■■

Anyone recognise the Scania bulker ■■

Panda hire Mercedes.

Dave Corbin ERF.

Flavel Leisure Cruiser.

Dont think we have had a Goddard Bros motor on before,anyone know where they are from ■■

Think it says Exel on the fridge ?

Leggett ERF.

Someone may recognise the Scania reg ■■

[windrush]

I think that Leggett’s were from the Potteries area Dean? Someone will know for sure.

Pete.

[robthedog]

Someone may recognise the reg on the Volvo ■■

8

Anyone recognise the Scania bulker ■■

7

3

Think it says Exel on the fridge ?

Hi Dean

The FL7 was a Dawson rental truck either on the spot hire fleet or a contract vehicle
The Scania is one of Jimmy Alfords from Southampton
And the silver Scania is exel logistics

2

[birdie4x4]

Dieseldog66:
Can anyone make out the Reg on Ewins & Sons F88 on page 18, it looks to me like one I owned back in the early 80’s…FBT 219L, but can’t just make it out.

I used to drive FBT 219L in 1977/78 I ran to the Middle East in it for Redcliffe Roadways , mainly fridge work, it belonged to Malcolm Watson from Mansfield he also had an F89 which he drove himself, I did quite a few trouble free miles in her traveling a few times to Kuwait, Doha, Saudi and Iraq.

Here they both are in southern Turkey, FBT 219L is the chrome grill one on the right.
Steve

[deanb]

windrush:
I think that Leggett’s were from the Potteries area Dean? Someone will know for sure.

Pete.

They had a few depots Pete,posted an article on Page 350 !

One of there old Atki’s.

robthedog:
Someone may recognise the reg on the Volvo ■■

Anyone recognise the Scania bulker ■■

Think it says Exel on the fridge ?

Hi Dean

The FL7 was a Dawson rental truck either on the spot hire fleet or a contract vehicle
The Scania is one of Jimmy Alfords from Southampton
And the silver Scania is exel logistics

Thanks for confirming those three Rob, good stuff chap.

Looks like Paul Gee has gone into the coach business.

[birdie4x4]

DEANB:

jsutherland:

John West:
Started driving lorries/trucks in '69.

‘In 69 I was 21 and called the world my own’. Running on empty!

Love these photos. As a photographer I make a good truck driver!

I’m amazed at how many of these I drove and / or owned. Leyland Comet 4 wheeler. BMC 6 wheeler 5.1 engine I think. 2 Mastiffs. 1 BMC, 1 Leyland. Daf 2200. Atkinson, ■■■■■■■ 205. Scania 110, Scania 140, Scania 111. Daf 2800. Volvo F86, Volvo F88, silver grille, 130? Never felt underpowered. Scania 110 day cab in the vicious desert heat of Saudi Arabia. Wonderful oil air filter, must have dumped tons of sand out of it. Saviem. Useless brakes, useless electrics. Small radiator, terrible overheating problems in Summer. You couldn’t get it near top gear - maybe 5th low on the ZF handlebar gearbox! Reliable engine. Got me back from Jeddah to Dammam, 1,000 miles, with a little end pinging like mad particularly up Taif mountain. Picture of the 110 day cab and the Saviem outside Sealand terminal 1978, waiting for a load. At the time I owned the 110, later the Saviem
2

Kenworh cabover with ■■■■■■■ engine 290 I think. Certainly for me the best suited tractor for Saudi. No good for UK. Turning circle 1/2 mile!
1
Also took a normal control Kenworth with (I think) a 450 ■■■■■■■ into Dammam Port. The Philippino driver didn’t have a Saudi licence so couldn’t go on the port. Got it up to 90 MPH before I realised I was just being silly!

Hannomag Henschel. Unterflur Bussing. To be fair, these were inherited tractors that we mainly used for local shunting in Dammam.

ERF. B series 6 wheelers. I did drive them, but by then I was Transport manager at Al Qafila. ‘Caravan Trading and General Services.’ Not caravans - ships of the desert.

Scania 142. 8 wheeler cut down to a 6 wheeler tractor, bought at discount because they couldn’t sell it!
0

Philippino Severino Bernardo at the Helm. ERF also in view. We ran several 112s as well, but I don’t remember actually driving one.

Halcyon days!

John.

Fascinating post John. Sound your working life has been quite an adventure.
Regards
Johnny

Sent from my Hol-U19 using Tapatalk

Thanks John, i agree with Johnny you have certainly got about a bit ! The silver grill 88’s were 240 bhp in
the UK from memory. You would have thought that the saviem being French built would have been ok in the heat ? I appreciate Saudi would have been alot hotter,but the South of France is normally around the 100 mark in the summer. Thanks for the post and pics.

The silver grill was 230 bhp the small black plastic was 240 bhp from my recollection.
Steve

[birdie4x4]

What a great thread, it’s going to take me hours to go right through it, it’s bringing back so many memories.
Thanks a lot.
Steve

[birdie4x4]

DEANB:

240 Gardner:
The Lowe Borderers were fitted with the “official” Atkinson sleeper cab and called the ‘Nightingale’, converted by Ellis & Son of Five Oaks Green in Kent, on behalf of Atkinson Vehicles (London) Limited of Nightingale Lane, Balham and sister company to the NIghtingale Engineering Company at the same address.

The very first Nightingale was built onto a Leader chassis for Lowe:

And here are the photos taken of it at Nightingale Lane after being prepped for delivery:

Strangely, it seems to have lost its tubeless rims between Balham and Paddock Wood! Lowe had at least three Borderers with the Nightingale cab too

The Antell Leader conversion does indeed have a neat sleeper, and I agree that the length makes all the difference (ooh-er), but I think that a new full length roof moulding makes them look so much smarter too - that’s something that the Riding sleeper conversion had in common with the Nightingale. I have a Riding roof in my garage…

Here’s a link to Chris Richards’ photo on Flickr, showing what I believe was the last of c.200 sleeper conversions built by W & J Riding, this one for Pandoro in 1981:

Excellent post Chris,very intresting. Will have a look and see if i have anything on those sleepers.

Heres a few more with sleepers.

0

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tc trans:
“kmills”
Thats Ukon (pronounced Yukon) Trucking.
They were quite big in the late 70’s, I don’t when they packed up, but I’d guess early 80’s.
They were based in Harlow at their peak, though I think they might have ended up in Whitham.
Mostly Dafs and Volvos as I recall, and they had quite a few old step frame tilts, I think much of their export work was forklifts, all topped off with groupage, I reckon they had some fridges too.
All the best, Keith

Yes they were indeed based in Harlow for many years, as a kid growing up, I remember seeing their trucks about often, seem to think they were either based in Riverway, or its was a regular unloading/loading point. I seem to remember they had an american unit, may have been a White Road Commander or a Mack. They had a stunning fleet from the eyes of a 10 year old boy.

Thanks for your comments “tc trans” about Ukon. Be nice to see a pic of the American motor.

Nice to see one of my old firms i drove for, Joseph Hoyle, I drove for them in 1975/76 out of the Darley Dale yard which used to be Toft Brothers and Tomlinsons yard who I also drove for before they packed up.