Newmercman, those Detroit 2 strokes do sound great. I came to the States 25 yrs ago and all you would hear is those 2 stokes buzzing about. Winn Dixie stores ran GMC’s with box trailers, and their drivers used to pull alongside each other at traffic lights and race each other drag style on green. I don’t think they would get away with it nowaday’s with road rage etc.
I have not driven 2 strokes in the States, but did have a chance in a couple of TM tractor units in London.
I worked for Henly’s of Wembley, at their Bedford dealership, and we done warranty work on a V6 that Ryder ran out of Park Royal, and a V8 that an owner driver had from Leics. Bobtailing they would fly and obviously
sounded great, but drivers who had ran them at max weight said they were hard work,you had to thrash them
all the time, revving the you know what off them.
Paul
Paul John:
Newmercman, those Detroit 2 strokes do sound great. I came to the States 25 yrs ago and all you would hear is those 2 stokes buzzing about. Winn Dixie stores ran GMC’s with box trailers, and their drivers used to pull alongside each other at traffic lights and race each other drag style on green. I don’t think they would get away with it nowaday’s with road rage etc.
I have not driven 2 strokes in the States, but did have a chance in a couple of TM tractor units in London.
I worked for Henly’s of Wembley, at their Bedford dealership, and we done warranty work on a V6 that Ryder ran out of Park Royal, and a V8 that an owner driver had from Leics. Bobtailing they would fly and obviously
sounded great, but drivers who had ran them at max weight said they were hard work,you had to thrash them
all the time, revving the you know what off them.
Paul
That was because us idiot Brits specced them with the 7 Litre 6V71 non turbo to run at 32 tonnes! and then they still only went for the non turbo 8V71 to try to improve matters.But if those drivers had tried the turbo charged 8V92 4400 then they would’nt have been complaining.But being a two stroke it always sounded like it was having the wotsits revved off because it was firing twice as often as a four stroke per revolution it was’nt actually turning over at the revs which it sounded like.
Hello ,Bedfords today guys. 
Bit of a lash up sleeper on the last KM,still better than across the seats. 
Cheers Bubbs. 
Barnfather and Wilkes is a blast from the past.
KM Bedfords were such a frequent sight. I still miss them
How the bloody hell do you dip the oil on the Hadfields sleeper?
Didnt the panel under the rear/side window, lift up -same as the standard Tk/Kms ?
Can remember Pickfords having those “sleeper” cabs.
Hiya…that Berisfords MAN was driven by IICR Dave Scarlet,A very good old chap .
John.
Suedehead:
Didnt the panel under the rear/side window, lift up -same as the standard Tk/Kms ?
Can remember Pickfords having those “sleeper” cabs.
I remember that you had to lift the flap and also unclip the front mudguard which then dropped down on a sort of overcentre hinge, still a pain to get to the oil filler and stay clean.
thorn bedford,barnfathers used to see them a lot in rushall nr walsall pre m42 days delivering to guymers transport rushall.
Nice one Bubbs, those Bedrords, drivers either loved them or hated them. It is such a shame that finally in the mid-eighties, the TM with the 14l 290 , or L10 ■■■■■■■■ and the TL with its own 8.3l blown motor and tilt cab had half a chance of proving themselves, GM pulled the plug. The first one I drove was under
3 ton ulw, and had a 300 motor 8137 KO. It was an ex brewery dray and at 17 yrs of age I thought I was king of the road. What ever people say they were good workhorses, and for most cheap to maintain and run.
Years later working at Henley’s, I had a friend who could drop the propshaft, the box, change the clutch and pressure plate and have it all back together in less than 30 mins. This was on his back or knees, no pit, jacks or air gun. Gilly, had hands like shovels but somehow made it look so easy to bring new life into these hard worked trucks.
Paul
240 Gardner:
bubbleman:
My word, Charter Roadways
In the days when B+I shared the Fleetwood-Dublin ship with Pandoro (the price for entry to Dublin port…) B+I was run entirely with subbies on traction, and Charter Roadways had several motors on full-time.
As I recall, they succumbed to significant legal issues… And that was when Beverley Bell still had pigtails and played hockey. I suppose you could say they were pioneers in running plain white motors, at least!
Hi, I remember Charter Roadways as my neighbour worked for them for some time. I remember them running upwards of 20 Dafs, mainly on B&I work, but I can remember at least one in black which was liveried with Ferrywagon, presumably subbing on VGT Ferrywagon. Charter had a little lock up unit on Walton Summit, with a huge dieslel tank outside. I recall that you had to drop the trailer to squeeze the unit onto the forcourt to fuel up, it is no wonder they fell foul of the Ministry.
I recall quite a high profile enquiry into Charter at the time and the penalties dolled out were unheard of, it made a few hauliers sit up. They made a lot of the drivers owner operators, without their own O licences or CPCs anongst other things.
There were many subbies on B&I line back in the late seventies, such as Norton Transport, Hothersalls and J C Foley, who I believe were owned by B&I. I recall moving many B&I trailers at weekends to save on demourage charges on the port. B&I line had a large yard at Fleetwood on Henderson Road, the old yard is now part of the A585 byepass. B&I paid per trailer moved overnight, a boring but profitable job. I also remember moving trailers to Foleys yard on Preston docks also.
Hello,Fords today, 
Hope these are ok.
Cheers Bubbs.
its true about those bedfords the tm with ■■■■■■■ was a good old lorry I never drove a detroit but drove a ■■■■■■■ for a short while we had 2 on a firm I worked for in 89 but our fitter told us parts were hard to get as the army had a monopoly on spares well they quite a few tms in various guises , the tls were the same what a shame really that GM never gave them more time or let them use other engines in the first place bedfords were part of the landscape when I was growing up in the 50s and 60s my old man drove enough of them but there again what do we make in this country anymore a lot of bankers (should that start with a W) loved the pics bubbleman of the d1000s thought they were the dogs proverbials when I was growing up regards fred maynard
ubym344:
its true about those bedfords the tm with ■■■■■■■ was a good old lorry I never drove a detroit but drove a ■■■■■■■ for a short while we had 2 on a firm I worked for in 89 but our fitter told us parts were hard to get as the army had a monopoly on spares well they quite a few tms in various guises , the tls were the same what a shame really that GM never gave them more time or let them use other engines in the first place bedfords were part of the landscape when I was growing up in the 50s and 60s my old man drove enough of them but there again what do we make in this country anymore a lot of bankers (should that start with a W) loved the pics bubbleman of the d1000s thought they were the dogs proverbials when I was growing up regards fred maynard
But the Detroit powered TM was better.4 stroke diesels versus 2 stroke was always a no contest and usually still is.2 strokes usually,if not always, win on power but power costs fuel which the Brits have never liked or been able to understand for some reason .The problem with the TM is that they tried to take advantage of the 2 stroke’s much better specific outputs by using much smaller capacity versions of it.Even the 8V71 had much more power than most of the bigger ■■■■■■■ engines.The TM 4400 fitted with an 8V92 Detroit is probably the best British truck ever built but as usual the best British trucks needed yank engines and transmissions and the Detroit two sroke was and still would be the best yank engine not the ■■■■■■■ or Cat.But the TM was abandoned by Bedford long before 1989 when GM gave up on the British ever being able to spec trucks the American way and I don’t think that the army ever went for the Detroit option on theirs.But now even the yanks have let the fuel issue take priority so no more 2 strokes even there.
Bubbleman
Hey Bubbs
Bit of an row going on, on the "Smith of Maddiston" thread at the moment. Some of the lads recon that they drove a Guy Big J with the 8 cyl: 240 engine in it, and others say they’re sure that the Big J never had it fitted, only the 180.
What’s the chances of you settling it with a picture and write up, from you’re collection ?
There will be blood spilt I’m afraid if evidence is not proven soon.!!! 
I.E. a photo with the engine sticking well out the back would be good !!! 
Cheers
Fergie
Fergie47:
BubblemanHey Bubbs
Bit of an row going on, on the "Smith of Maddiston" thread at the moment. Some of the lads recon that they drove a Guy Big J with the 8 cyl: 240 engine in it, and others say they’re sure that the Big J never had it fitted, only the 180.
What’s the chances of you settling it with a picture and write up, from you’re collection ?
There will be blood spilt I’m afraid if evidence is not proven soon.!!!Cheers
Fergie
Yea Fergie you keeping a low profile or what now all the preverbial is hitting the fan !!! But no doubt you will claim all the Brownie points when you are stood in the middle of the Battlefield holding a 6ft x 6ft photo in the air !! I only wish James Smith would answer his phone and put me out of my misery !!! Keep your head below the parapit— I will give you a shout when the dust settles . Cheers Bewick
trucker.blackpool:
240 Gardner:
bubbleman:
There were many subbies on B&I line back in the late seventies, such as Norton Transport, Hothersalls and J C Foley, who I believe were owned by B&I. I recall moving many B&I trailers at weekends to save on demourage charges on the port. B&I line had a large yard at Fleetwood on Henderson Road, the old yard is now part of the A585 byepass. B&I paid per trailer moved overnight, a boring but profitable job. I also remember moving trailers to Foleys yard on Preston docks also.
Foley bought some secondhand Atkis from Pandoro for that shunting job - I can’t remember how many, but here are a couple:
The Mercedes was the standard fleet motor at that time.
I believe that there was some kind of connection between Foley and B+I. B+I was what was described as a ‘semi-state corporation’, which meant that it was state-owned, but had a mandate to run on commercial lines and return a profit.
The rumour put about at the time was that Mr. Foley was the Irish Transport Minister, and thus the connection. I’ve absolutely no idea whether this was true!
Bewick:
Fergie47:
BubblemanHey Bubbs
Bit of an row going on, on the "Smith of Maddiston" thread at the moment. Some of the lads recon that they drove a Guy Big J with the 8 cyl: 240 engine in it, and others say they’re sure that the Big J never had it fitted, only the 180.
What’s the chances of you settling it with a picture and write up, from you’re collection ?
There will be blood spilt I’m afraid if evidence is not proven soon.!!!Cheers
FergieYea Fergie you keeping a low profile or what now all the preverbial is hitting the fan !!! But no doubt you will claim all the Brownie points when you are stood in the middle of the Battlefield holding a 6ft x 6ft photo in the air !! I only wish James Smith would answer his phone and put me out of my misery !!! Keep your head below the parapit— I will give you a shout when the dust settles . Cheers Bewick
Woooooooooooooooooooa !! I said, I don’t remember ever seeing a 240 in a Guy, but would wait until I was proven right or wrong. 5th Wheel was so positive he had driven one, that to resolve it, we need to see a photo / picture, and not just a recollection or hearsay. Proof dear boy, proof is what we need, I’m the good guy here.
NURSE !more oxygen and easy start for Bewick, he’s loosing the will to live.
Hi again,Dunno if I can help with the debate on a SOM Guy with a 240 shoved in it Fergie…will look in the box for something…ok 
Mixed bag today.
Hope these are ok.
Cheers Bubbs.
Hi Bubbs, Have you got any Hoyer in old colour’s same as Norman Lewis Cheers Mel
hiya,
Marc the first pic of Smith’s 4 wheeled ERF, i drove one identical for a few weeks in the early 60s 5lw top speed 39 MPH i think it had air assisted brakes and the thing would’nt stop but as dependable as the day was long.
thanks harry long retired.