Rochet - Schneider “Centaure” 6x2 with Frappa fridge body.
Fergie47:
Here you go Robert, and everyone else of course…pic’s taken by the patron…someone did name the restaurant once, but I cant find it…
the first one I think, is the wife and children of the owner…
A couple of phone calls and it looks like the cafe / restaurant was called “cafe du croissant” and was in a village La-celle-saint-avant…on what was the then A10, now by-passed, from Tours to Chatelleroult… today, at the end of the village southbound, is a large Les routiers, but don’t think it’s the same place…
Fergie47:
Fergie47:
Here you go Robert, and everyone else of course…pic’s taken by the patron…someone did name the restaurant once, but I cant find it…
the first one I think, is the wife and children of the owner…A couple of phone calls and it looks like the cafe / restaurant was called “cafe du croissant” and was in a village La-celle-saint-avant…on what was the then A10, now by-passed, from Tours to Chatelleroult… today, at the end of the village southbound, is a large Les routiers, but don’t think it’s the same place…
Must have been some time ago because they made it very difficult for lorries between the N10 at Tour and Poitiers so I used to slip onto the A10 for that stretch. Robert
robert1952:
Fergie47:
Fergie47:
Here you go Robert, and everyone else of course…pic’s taken by the patron…someone did name the restaurant once, but I cant find it…
the first one I think, is the wife and children of the owner…A couple of phone calls and it looks like the cafe / restaurant was called “cafe du croissant” and was in a village La-celle-saint-avant…on what was the then A10, now by-passed, from Tours to Chatelleroult… today, at the end of the village southbound, is a large Les routiers, but don’t think it’s the same place…
Must have been some time ago because they made it very difficult for lorries between the N10 at Tour and Poitiers so I used to slip onto the A10 for that stretch. Robert
Well, looking at those pics the patron took, I’d guess late '60’s early '70’s, so about 40 odd years ago,.,or “sometime ago”… 
Wow Fergie, you are a resourceful man!!
Sent from my Hol-U19 using Tapatalk
pv83:
Bit of history then (again), this time about Poclain, there’s enough footage about Poclain diggers being transported on low loaders, but who here knows a bit more about Poclain itself?
Only thing I know is that it was founded by Georges Bataille in 1927, and that the first digger was build in 1948, based upon a Dodge 4x4 rigid…
The most iconic of them all was the TY45 digger, with a 3 wheeled undercarriage, the first one I ever saw was in the Czech Republic, although I never found out if that was indeed a Poclain or some EE replica…
In 1974 CASE stepped in, and took charge in 1987…only thing that’s still left of Poclain is the hydraulic division… actually a case of back at square one for them…[/Hi Patric! Poclain,bring back some memorys from when i was a kid. The company my dad worked for was the importer of poclain. They came by boat to Stockholm and the by truck out the country(if i remember right) But my dad didnt do any of that work he was on the steel work. So no machines for him just steel.
Danne
Happy to oblige Danne, memories…That’s what this fine thread seems to be about…
Whether it be a pic of an old lorry, a glimpse of a restaurant/routiers/cafe or indeed some ancient machinery 
Fergie47:
Fergie47:
Here you go Robert, and everyone else of course…pic’s taken by the patron…someone did name the restaurant once, but I cant find it…
the first one I think, is the wife and children of the owner…A couple of phone calls and it looks like the cafe / restaurant was called “cafe du croissant” and was in a village La-celle-saint-avant…on what was the then A10, now by-passed, from Tours to Chatelleroult… today, at the end of the village southbound, is a large Les routiers, but don’t think it’s the same place…
I’ve visited the Les Routiers pictured, been there just the once, and still remember it very well…and not because of the food…
Came down from your neck of the woods Fergie, with a CAT 2 load, and was on me way to Austria, couldn’t get any more further then that place ( always refer it to as Port de Piles, that’s the next village, but it’s easier to remember), parked up and saw that they had rabbit as the “plat du jour”…now I’m definitely the world’s worst chef, but I do know a thing or two of what I like to eat, rabbit being right there on the list…so instead of some absolute fine piece of meat, they served some pieces that really needed some chewing on… first and last time for me that was…
However, there was this stunning “petite” waitress, with a see through shirt on…and no bra… That’s the reason I still remember it very well… 
pv83:
Fergie47:
Fergie47:
Here you go Robert, and everyone else of course…pic’s taken by the patron…someone did name the restaurant once, but I cant find it…
the first one I think, is the wife and children of the owner…A couple of phone calls and it looks like the cafe / restaurant was called “cafe du croissant” and was in a village La-celle-saint-avant…on what was the then A10, now by-passed, from Tours to Chatelleroult… today, at the end of the village southbound, is a large Les routiers, but don’t think it’s the same place…
I’ve visited the Les Routiers pictured, been there just the once, and still remember it very well…and not because of the food…
Came down from your neck of the woods Fergie, with a CAT 2 load, and was on me way to Austria, couldn’t get any more further then that place ( always refer it to as Port de Piles, that’s the next village, but it’s easier to remember), parked up and saw that they had rabbit as the “plat du jour”…now I’m definitely the world’s worst chef, but I do know a thing or two of what I like to eat, rabbit being right there on the list…so instead of some absolute fine piece of meat, they served some pieces that really needed some chewing on… first and last time for me that was…
However, there was this stunning “petite” waitress, with a see through shirt on…and no bra… That’s the reason I still remember it very well…
Talking of Les Routiers rabbit: I used to use the relais at Freteval just north of Vendome on the RN10 sometimes - middle of nowhere, we used to call it ‘The little house on the prairie’. Anyway, I couldn’t think of the word for ‘rabbit’ (lapin) so I mimed with my fingers on my head and made funny mouths. The two young waitresses left giggling and came back with a plate of sheep’s brains. I ate the lot! 
The two DTS drivers who stopped with me will remember the occasion. Robert
jsutherland:
Wow Fergie, you are a resourceful man!!Sent from my Hol-U19 using Tapatalk
John would tell you the name of the patron, his wife, kids, and the girls that worked there, and, what meal he had the last time he was there, along with the date, time, and what the weather was like…where he’d come from, where he was going, and what load he had on the back of his little old Foden …me, I just made a couple of calls…
I really miss him… 
Fergie47:
jsutherland:
Wow Fergie, you are a resourceful man!!Sent from my Hol-U19 using Tapatalk
John would tell you the name of the patron, his wife, kids, and the girls that worked there, and, what meal he had the last time he was there, along with the date, time, and what the weather was like…where he’d come from, where he was going, and what load he had on the back of his little old Foden …me, I just made a couple of calls…
I really miss him…
I think we all do, mate. One of his lasting legacies on TNUK has been this thread; not only for the reasons we normally give - John’s wisdom, expertise and knowledge - but because this whole thread is a celebration of the whole French transport culture. The thread is already a historical gem, which hopefully will give the next generation encouragement to reach out to la belle France. Robert
Well said Robert. I completely agree with you. You are right Fergie. But, you made the effort and we appreciate it!
Sent from my Hol-U19 using Tapatalk
pv83:
Happy to oblige Danne, memories…That’s what this fine thread seems to be about…
Whether it be a pic of an old lorry, a glimpse of a restaurant/routiers/cafe or indeed some ancient machinery
I always skipped this thread because I misunderstood the title. Thought it was a tribute to our TN friend “Saviem” not that I have anything against him.
Just finished looking at every page, definitely one of the better threads. DD
Fergie47:
jsutherland:
Wow Fergie, you are a resourceful man!!Sent from my Hol-U19 using Tapatalk
John would tell you the name of the patron, his wife, kids, and the girls that worked there, and, what meal he had the last time he was there, along with the date, time, and what the weather was like…where he’d come from, where he was going, and what load he had on the back of his little old Foden …me, I just made a couple of calls…
I really miss him…
You’re not alone, Fergie. Totally irreplaceable.
Fergie47:
jsutherland:
Wow Fergie, you are a resourceful man!!Sent from my Hol-U19 using Tapatalk
John would tell you the name of the patron, his wife, kids, and the girls that worked there, and, what meal he had the last time he was there, along with the date, time, and what the weather was like…where he’d come from, where he was going, and what load he had on the back of his little old Foden …me, I just made a couple of calls…
I really miss him…
Reading this made me laugh…but moments later really sad… don’t reckon we will meet another gent such as John in our lifetime…really glad I’ve had the privilege to met him via this thread, which at first I thought was just a fan club for that illustrious marque…but it turned out to be so much more…
It might not make any sense to some of you, but visiting this thread feels like going to the pub and meet some old (quite literally in some matters ) mates…
robert1952:
pv83:
Fergie47:
Fergie47:
Here you go Robert, and everyone else of course…pic’s taken by the patron…someone did name the restaurant once, but I cant find it…
the first one I think, is the wife and children of the owner…A couple of phone calls and it looks like the cafe / restaurant was called “cafe du croissant” and was in a village La-celle-saint-avant…on what was the then A10, now by-passed, from Tours to Chatelleroult… today, at the end of the village southbound, is a large Les routiers, but don’t think it’s the same place…
I’ve visited the Les Routiers pictured, been there just the once, and still remember it very well…and not because of the food…
Came down from your neck of the woods Fergie, with a CAT 2 load, and was on me way to Austria, couldn’t get any more further then that place ( always refer it to as Port de Piles, that’s the next village, but it’s easier to remember), parked up and saw that they had rabbit as the “plat du jour”…now I’m definitely the world’s worst chef, but I do know a thing or two of what I like to eat, rabbit being right there on the list…so instead of some absolute fine piece of meat, they served some pieces that really needed some chewing on… first and last time for me that was…
However, there was this stunning “petite” waitress, with a see through shirt on…and no bra… That’s the reason I still remember it very well…Talking of Les Routiers rabbit: I used to use the relais at Freteval just north of Vendome on the RN10 sometimes - middle of nowhere, we used to call it ‘The little house on the prairie’. Anyway, I couldn’t think of the word for ‘rabbit’ (lapin) so I mimed with my fingers on my head and made funny mouths. The two young waitresses left giggling and came back with a plate of sheep’s brains. I ate the lot!
I do wonder what gestures you’ve made Robert
But more importantly, how did the sheep’s brain tasted?
pv83:
Talking of Les Routiers rabbit: I used to use the relais at Freteval just north of Vendome on the RN10 sometimes - middle of nowhere, we used to call it ‘The little house on the prairie’. Anyway, I couldn’t think of the word for ‘rabbit’ (lapin) so I mimed with my fingers on my head and made funny mouths. The two young waitresses left giggling and came back with a plate of sheep’s brains. I ate the lot! The two DTS drivers who stopped with me will remember the occasion. Robert
[/quote]
I do wonder what gestures you’ve made Robert
But more importantly, how did the sheep’s brain tasted?
[/quote]
Washed down with lashings of vin de table and a few side vegetables it was very pleasant! Then it was off up the road in the afternoon to Chateaudun and the Channel ports - and I didn’t even go down with ovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad sheep disease)! Robert
pv83:
, but visiting this thread feels like going to the pub and meet some old (quite literally in some matters
And young friends too…
Fergie47:
pv83:
, but visiting this thread feels like going to the pub and meet some old (quite literally in some mattersAnd young friends too…
Dave,
This is what these “young 'uns” get upto, this is Patrick pulling a wheelie whilst showing off to some young girls out of shot!!
