Scrapbook Memories (Part 1)

[grumpy_old_man]

Numbum:
I think Bubbs is going away again so here is part one of my trucking life story in photos.

I started driving in 1965 and this AEC new in 1946 was still in the fleet . It was soon disposed of and all I can remeber is the cold metal steering wheel and I think it had two gearsticks.

The only Scammell in the fleet ,new in 1952 it lasted until the MOT test came out. The rod operated trailer brakes were updated to air and it was pulled by a new Leyland Beaver unit.

A tax disc from the Scammell.

New in 1958 with a Duramin , Lydney cab. When this was sold I can remember the drive axle moved on the springs when going from forward to reverse.

There were three of these Commers. It was driving ones of these that qualified me for a class 1 HGV licence.

Bristol works had a Foden like this on loan from the Plymouth works. I had to take it back as far as Exeter Station. Speedo in the middle of the steering wheel.

One of six Commers with a Unipower conversion. I think they were about 17 1/2 ton loaded. If you made a slow sharp turn in the wet they wanted to go straight on.

The last of six of these AEC.s. I took this photo before cutting it up.

Endless tales go with these photos but I will only bore you all with one. The works were on the banks of the river Avon and the shed with a pit in used to flood when the river burst it banks.The Scammell had been left over the pit when this happened overnight with the doors left open. The foreman put a pair of waders on to get the Scammell out but when he walked in front of it he dissapeared down the pit. The wooden pit boards had floated away never to be seen again.

Cheers Phil.

The AEC did indeed have 2 sticks, I 've used em, 8 wheel Mamouth Major with a draw bar on, 10 hours from West Yorks to London down the OLD A1

[numbum]

Hello Brian.Nice to hear from another tanker ( I think thats what they said ) driver. Another dose from my past.

Taunton Deane services.

Pumping off at Taunton.

Got to an army camp in Dorset with kero from Swansea at 1pm with this. Was told,to late mate the army goes home at 12 0/c on a Friday.

On the way back from Rotherwas, Hereford.

The same truck a few days later after hitting a flat trailer on the motorway.

Did a few night runs to Ellsmere Port to load this.

Blown turbo on the M25.

Blown turbo again near Bristol.

Picked up this new trailer from Bradford with this X Fina unit.

Near Wincanton.

At Newport ,I used to forget which supermarket I was woking for some days.

Aviation spirit for Biggin Hill from Southampton.

Nearly at the end chaps Phil.

[grumpy_old_man]

All these photos stir up a lot of memories for me, I never realised I’d driven so many differnent makes of vehicle. I’m retired now , the photo’s make me feel even older.

[numbum]

The final part of my trucking life.

Parked for the night with a day cab. Near the cafe at Brandon Suffolk.

Rownham services.

My last day at work, my last truck. Near Kingsbury terminal. The following trucks I have just moved around the country for people.






Drove seventeen makes of trucks and went to thirty six petrol depots that I can remember. Used to deliver petrol in T shirt and shorts and ended up weighed down with clobber looking like some dayglow zombie. Terminals used to have loaders in them ended up swearing at a computer like B&Q today.
Had two years to reflect on it all now and I think the final photo says it all. I was glad to see the back of it.

Cheers all Phil.

[grumpy_old_man]

Glad to see the back of it?? You and me both matey, I got a lot of job satisfaction out of my tanker years, it gave me a good life, but I’ve no desire to go back to it. How the fellas today cope with the road conditions (queueing and congestion, numpties etc. etc.) and running a thacho at the same time, no, I’m well out of it.

[numbum]

I think this is the Martian dumped beside the M5 near the old Langdons truck stop.


Taunton Deane services.

A37 Bristol

A37 southbound again.

Phil.

[bazztrucker]

Bazztrucker,at last ive posted.

[harry_gill]

bazztrucker:
Bazztrucker,at last ive posted.

hiya,
Well done bazztrucker and you’ve done it on a top thread.
thanks harry long retired.

[annies_pride]

Answer to your question NZ JAMIE , Bill Hockin had that twin steer f12 A898KFJ new originally had surf board spoiler on roof like Smythes . At the time alot of North devon hauliers had KFJ registrations all seemed to be f10’s or f12’s , smythes seemed to have the most . My dad was a Evans driver then done a spell for Hockins drove that F12 a couple times he said that lorry would go like s@>t !!! not much would catch it . got to admit Smythes lorries bring a big smile to me when i see any photos . the old 361 told alot of stories for them boys !!!

[numbum]

A few more to keep Bubbs thread going. I wonder where he has gone this time.

Freightline of Bristol.

Freightline Wrecker.



Malta, still with the english owners name.

Cheers PHIL.

[wheel_nut]

I loved these mobile vans with sweets when I was a kid.

[dave_the_renegade]

Help to keep Marc’s thread going.

[altitude]

Wheel Nut:

I loved these mobile vans with sweets when I was a kid.

Could have made a great camper out of that Trader.

[nz_jamie]

Great pics again Numbum mate.
Here’s the sister to the Freightline Scania. Bubbs posted a pic on the Devon thread of this one HYD 649T when it was owned by Sparks from Glastonbury. Do you reckon the Freightline one was ex-Sparks too?

This was me age 10,in 1985,when I started taking truck photos,25 years later and I’m still taking them,only wish there were more of these on the road today.

Luxton and Coombes ran this old ■■■■■■■ bulkers until about 1990 when she was chopped up.

Do you have any pics of a day cab 111 that Luxton and Coombes used to run mate?

[tomalter]

Thanks for sharing your experience,
It remembers me My first truck.
I bought it in 1986, when I was 20 year old only.
It was 1966 Mack C95f

[bazztrucker]

The Griggs Volvo looks like it’s returning to Monmouth sawmill after tipping wood chips at Sudbook paper mill,which wereboth owned by St.Regis paper co.

[bazztrucker]

Sorry Harry, should have said thanks for the welcome , bazztrucker!

[dave_the_renegade]

A few more until Marc return’s.

[stanfield]

Plus a couple more to keep things going.
FAM Scania wrecker parked in Manchester during the pride festival last saturday,

Charlie Butts new livery.

Express Parcels Scania

[numbum]

Hi NZ Jammie, I do not know who the Freightline truck was new to.Bubbs may know when he is back. I can only remember them with older vehicles, I took the photo of the wrecker at their yard which was waste ground, the site of an old tannery.
Some more to carry on with.

Modern Engineering Bristol.

Cheers Phil.