Froggy55:
Second picture was probably one of the last Rochet-Schneider trucks before the make was taken over by Berliet c. 1952. The driver was lucky to enjoy a vast sleeper cab!
Looking at this and a previous pic of roomy cabs made me recall that, at that time (not that long after the WW2), France was suffering a housing crisis. Perhaps these roomy cabs were not just a home-from-home but maybe mostly a home?! Just an idea. I wonder if any of our older members might comment.
My involvement with France began in the late 60’s and even at that time I can recall “Bidonvilles” (literal translation would be liquid-container, as in tin can, towns. Basic shacks knocked up out of scrap) around Paris. Then. Froggy, along came “les trente glorieuses” and life changed for many.
Some of those “tin cans” are still to be found around the Paris region, even as close as to the Stade de France!
Really? I thought they had cleared them all years ago. I wonder if what you report are more modern reincarnations due to the financial state we have been in for the last few years.
Froggy55:
Second picture was probably one of the last Rochet-Schneider trucks before the make was taken over by Berliet c. 1952. The driver was lucky to enjoy a vast sleeper cab!
Looking at this and a previous pic of roomy cabs made me recall that, at that time (not that long after the WW2), France was suffering a housing crisis. Perhaps these roomy cabs were not just a home-from-home but maybe mostly a home?! Just an idea. I wonder if any of our older members might comment.
My involvement with France began in the late 60’s and even at that time I can recall “Bidonvilles” (literal translation would be liquid-container, as in tin can, towns. Basic shacks knocked up out of scrap) around Paris. Then. Froggy, along came “les trente glorieuses” and life changed for many.
Some of those “tin cans” are still to be found around the Paris region, even as close as to the Stade de France!
Really? I thought they had cleared them all years ago. I wonder if what you report are more modern reincarnations due to the financial state we have been in for the last few years.
Well, it seems that those huts are occupied by immigrants, Roma’s and misfits far as I can tell, but no doubt they’re all financially struggling.
My first visit to France was on a coach trip, in 1980, which took us through Calais and down to St Tropez (on les RN seulement!). Just outside Calais, we saw what can only be described as a shanty town- huts lining the road, for a km or so, as I remember it. Is that still there? Was it there is the first place, or am I dreaming?
Here’s another vast cab, on a Latil chassis (c. 1947/50).
In the '40s, '50s and '60s, many long-distance drivers had to do with a bunk consisting in a wooden board that could be onfolded on the engine cover (forward cabs). Sincerely, I do not think any truck was ever designed to be its driver’s home for over a week. The two vast cabs I just posted had probably been ordered by a self-employed trucker who wanted a comfortable bunk.
The shanty dwellings some of you recently saw in France were certainly inhabitated either by immigrates (Calais) or “Roms” (Romanian gipsies in the Paris area). Made of corrugated iron sheets, cardboard, wood planks, in fatc almost anything, they’re regularly knocked down by the police, and immediatelty rebuilt on another spot. And that should last as long as a solution is not found for these people.
And I’m happy an agreement was found about the Brexit. It would have been a pity if the UK had become a second North Korea!
Happy Christmas to all of you, and a special thought for all the drivers (British or Continental) who are stuck waiting for their ferry or their turn at the Tunnel
pv83:
Seeing that it’s Christmas, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Me, I think of the cold North… and Sisu’s…
At the risk of being drummed out of the Bah Humbug club , I wish you and yours a merry Xmas and a happy new year Patrick . Tin hat on in case anyone else notices . Dave
pv83:
Seeing that it’s Christmas, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Me, I think of the cold North… and Sisu’s…
At the risk of being drummed out of the Bah Humbug club , I wish you and yours a merry Xmas and a happy new year Patrick . Tin hat on in case anyone else notices . Dave
Got you covered mate, no worries
I wish you a happy Christmas too and all the best for 2021!
At the previous firms I’ve worked for, we used to haul the propellers and the thrusters, as they were made by Lips which was taken over by Wartsila, I’ll have a look in my archives, I should have some pic’s of it.
pv83:
Seeing that it’s Christmas, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Me, I think of the cold North… and Sisu’s…
At the risk of being drummed out of the Bah Humbug club , I wish you and yours a merry Xmas and a happy new year Patrick . Tin hat on in case anyone else notices . Dave
Got you covered mate, no worries
I wish you a happy Christmas too and all the best for 2021!
It has not gone un noticed you pair! You’ll keep until next year’s reopening of the Bah Humbug club!
Back to vast sleeper cabs of c. 1950 with this Rochet-Schneider Centaure. The door at the back of the bunk probably gives access to the spare wheel. Fitted with a 150 bhp 11 litre Rochet straight-six diesel.
