This photo was taken to accompany an article about its trial installation with a Fuller RTO610 box behind the 180 Gardner.
Apparently, John Raymond used to move the motors on after a year, but this was kept on a little longer for the trial, and
had done 176,000 miles (that’s 283,000kms for those younger than me…) in 18 months. It was double-shifted between
Bridgend and London with a changeover point at Witney. Before most of the M4, of course!
Raymond’s apparently liked the 10-speed 'box behind the Gardner (and so do I, as I have a 180 Gardner with a Fuller
behind it) but Atkinson weren’t happy as, technically, the torque applied to the drive axle in crawler exceeded its rating.
It wasn’t a combination ever catalogued by the factory.
This was the only ‘Chinese Six’ operated by Northern Ireland Trailers, but they went on to operate 3 batches of Rear Steer
Atkinsons (both Mk.1 and Mk.2-cabbed), also on a 12’6" wheelbase. That’s 3.81m in modern money, and means that
these 40-year old tractors could couple to a modern 13.6m trailer with a 1.6m king pin.
The scene is Preston Dock, now sadly no more than a marina.
This photo was taken to accompany an article about its trial installation with a Fuller RTO610 box behind the 180 Gardner.
Apparently, John Raymond used to move the motors on after a year, but this was kept on a little longer for the trial, and
had done 176,000 miles (that’s 283,000kms for those younger than me…) in 18 months. It was double-shifted between
Bridgend and London with a changeover point at Witney. Before most of the M4, of course!
Raymond’s apparently liked the 10-speed 'box behind the Gardner (and so do I, as I have a 180 Gardner with a Fuller
behind it) but Atkinson weren’t happy as, technically, the torque applied to the drive axle in crawler exceeded its rating.
It wasn’t a combination ever catalogued by the factory.
Smashing Box the old Roadranger, pity they never uped the torque rating of that Diff to accomadate the Fuller as the Gardner would sing so much better with them extra ratios! My father had Roadranger behind an 8LXB in the B series he drove for Farming Supplies (Maldon) Ltd, it was a good box that you could lightening-fast changes from and that clutch leg could be rested alot of the time aswell!
l’ve thousands of lorry leaflets and came across this gem earlier today…l hope it comes out big enough so that its readable…wonder how many of these firms are still going.
This is a Scammell Crusader leaflet from the 70s
I remember just about all of them Mark,what a brilliant selection,thanks.
I used to fill up at W.G.Davies at Landore,Swansea in the 70s and their wagons were always immaculate,especially the Crusaders. I’ve been off the road for years but I think the Sykes Group may still be going,anybody confirm it?
It looks like the wagon belongs to Thackerays,who were from North Yorks I think,but my eyes aren’t as good as they used to be,any advance on my thoughts?
I seem to recognize that bit of road,maybe around Thirsk going towards the hills,but I’m probably miles out.
Whatever,another good selection Mark,especially the Hemphill Fodens,thanks.
That Scammell article was great, nice to see Dines Transport in there they only ever did have one Crusader and I neve got the chance to drive it, damm!!!
Its the long drag out of whitby, heading back towards pickering, the moor top in the distance is where the giant golf balls used to be at RAF filingdales, the white building in the background is a pub, can’t remember it’s name.I used to deliver to whitby twice a week in the early 80’s, the docks were always busy with slaters F88’s & F10’s loading timber onto flat trailers, there depot was on the main road between malton & pickering.
jerry truckartist:
Its the long drag out of whitby, heading back towards pickering, the moor top in the distance is where the giant golf balls used to be at RAF filingdales, the white building in the background is a pub, can’t remember it’s name.I used to deliver to whitby twice a week in the early 80’s, the docks were always busy with slaters F88’s & F10’s loading timber onto flat trailers, there depot was on the main road between malton & pickering.
The Crusader brochure looks fantastic, brought back memories, corona soft drinks at pudsey, just up the road from me, and the Ackworth ,sleeper cab unit with stepframe tilt, fantastic,
cheers Bubbleman !!!
jerry
i can remember the corona crusaders going up measham high st (a453) in the late 70s, well before the a42 bypassed the village,i think corona had a depot in tamworth.who can remember the the hill top cafe at the top of the high st that was i think run by an italian that closed when the a42 opened.
bubbleman:
A few full page adverts for Scanias then we’ll go east!
Cheers Marc.
Masters of the M/E eh?
I shipped out from Harwich with 3 of these guys,all bound for Teheran.
2 piled up in Yugoslavia,this one made it to somewhere East of Sivas before it was parked up.All new motors too if I remember correctly.
