Somerset Tipper Operators

roadcommander2 · 22 February 2009 11:09

The quarries around the Mendips have provided a living for a good number of small tipper fleets & owner drivers over the years.

Does anyone have any pics of any of them or even any of the quarry company fleets.

ARC/Hanson from Whateley, Yeoman from Torr Works, ECCQ/Bardon,Wainwrights etc.

Be interested in whatever you have.

Cheers
Mark

dave_the_renegade · 22 February 2009 16:25

One of the tipper operators from this part of the country bought a couple of six wheelers from the mendip area, I think they came from a Foster Yeomans quarry

windrush · 22 February 2009 21:50

When I lived in Reading in the 60’s/70’s the M4 was under construction and it was surfaced by trucks from the Somerset area, mainly four wheelers. I recall Alec A Castle with his BMC Mastiff as it broke down with gearbox trouble and we repaired it, it was still loaded with tarmac and was in our workshop for a day or two awaiting parts. He said that to get the tarmac out he was going to pour diesel over it and set light to it, when it softened it would come out ok (he said!!)
We used to take Limestone dust from Ashbourne to the big quarry at East Cranmore, until a firm from the Swindon area undercut us as a backload.

Pete.

gavin_mcardle · 24 February 2009 15:21

Hi all there were so many operators in this area that it would be almost impossible to list them, I got to about 50 just in my area. I have a pic of my Guy Big J that I’ll find and post (Idon’t think I have any more) and I have posted a pic of Yeomans fleet that we shipped to Saudi on the Astran thread.
Gavin

roadcommander2 · 25 February 2009 09:58

Hi Gavin,

Thanks for your reply.
As you say there are no end of operators from the area, so Im suprised a few more pics have not turned up yet.

The trip to Saudi with the Yeoman fleet would have been quite a steady run, especially in those Foden 8 wheelers which were probably powered by 180 Gardners! Thanks for posting the pics.

Cheers
Mark

joe · 19 March 2010 23:03

joe · 19 March 2010 23:49

tarmac · 13 September 2010 21:22

A gem from the past, Hobbs (Quarries) Ltd at their peak ran 16 quarries in the Somerset / Mendips / South Wales, here is owner, Robert Hobb’s with one of his Fodens, at the entrance to Flax Bourton Quarry, they also ran Halecombe Quarry, Fairy Cave Quarry, and Backford Quarry…any one any more pictures ?

flatman001 · 14 September 2010 07:36

altitude · 14 September 2010 09:03

TARMAC:

A gem from the past, Hobbs (Quarries) Ltd at their peak ran 16 quarries in the Somerset / Mendips / South Wales, here is owner, Robert Hobb’s with one of his Fodens, at the entrance to Flax Bourton Quarry, they also ran Halecombe Quarry, Fairy Cave Quarry, and Backford Quarry…any one any more pictures ?

Old Hobbs looks nearly as smart as his Foden, pity about the shoes.

numbum · 14 September 2010 09:07

All taken in central Bristol Phil.

tarmac · 14 September 2010 17:39

Thanx everyone, thought this thread had been too quiet for along time…here is another offering. These images very kindly lent to me by the Hobbs Family…obviously the smaller 4 wheeler foden, prior to delivery…

bewick · 16 September 2010 21:34

altitude:

TARMAC:

A gem from the past, Hobbs (Quarries) Ltd at their peak ran 16 quarries in the Somerset / Mendips / South Wales, here is owner, Robert Hobb’s with one of his Fodens, at the entrance to Flax Bourton Quarry, they also ran Halecombe Quarry, Fairy Cave Quarry, and Backford Quarry…any one any more pictures ?

Old Hobbs looks nearly as smart as his Foden, pity about the shoes.

When I first saw this shot I thought 'ello 'ello it’ll not be long until someone comments on the “footwear” but Lads youv’e got to remember that they were the height of fashion for chief excecs.when that shot was taken.But I bet that the guv’nor didn’t drive the Foden into position for the shot !!! he would just have told the driver to ef off and stand behind the photographer!!! If a guv’nor was photo’d wearing them shoes to-day you would be right in thinking that he rode on the “wrong bus” defo.Bewick.

altitude · 17 September 2010 07:03

What a nice way of putting it Dennis…road on the wrong bus… never had the one before brilliant.

bewick · 18 September 2010 19:31

altitude:
What a nice way of putting it Dennis…road on the wrong bus… never had the one before brilliant.

Hiya “altitude” well if I had spelled it out I would have defo got another warning of one of the moderators!!! But don’t think for one minute I was in-ferring that old man Hobbs was a passenger on “said bus” I wasn’t!!! I was merely passing comment on his footwear and suggesting how things have changed(for the worst) over the years!! Cheers Dennis.

altitude · 20 September 2010 20:09

Bewick:

altitude:
What a nice way of putting it Dennis…road on the wrong bus… never had the one before brilliant.

Hiya “altitude” well if I had spelled it out I would have defo got another warning of one of the moderators!!! But don’t think for one minute I was in-ferring that old man Hobbs was a passenger on “said bus” I wasn’t!!! I was merely passing comment on his footwear and suggesting how things have changed(for the worst) over the years!! Cheers Dennis.

Hi Dennis
I was in a pub in Petersfield last night with a few mates, and a guy walked in a bit strange you know what I mean, not in old Hobbs shoes but the rest was there, limp wrist, pink shirt, tipped toed up to the bar, my mate said look at this one, I said he just rode on the wrong bus, they were in fits mate on the floor they said where the hell did you get that one from, I just said Dennis, there not truckers but I will explain to them who you are next time I see them.
cheers

John.

muckaway · 20 September 2010 20:42

And jumps puddles!

altitude · 20 September 2010 20:54

Yeah that as well mate.

sammy_dog · 20 September 2010 20:57

Bewick:

altitude:

TARMAC:

A gem from the past, Hobbs (Quarries) Ltd at their peak ran 16 quarries in the Somerset / Mendips / South Wales, here is owner, Robert Hobb’s with one of his Fodens, at the entrance to Flax Bourton Quarry, they also ran Halecombe Quarry, Fairy Cave Quarry, and Backford Quarry…any one any more pictures ?

Old Hobbs looks nearly as smart as his Foden, pity about the shoes.

When I first saw this shot I thought 'ello 'ello it’ll not be long until someone comments on the “footwear” but Lads youv’e got to remember that they were the height of fashion for chief excecs.when that shot was taken.But I bet that the guv’nor didn’t drive the Foden into position for the shot !!! he would just have told the driver to ef off and stand behind the photographer!!! If a guv’nor was photo’d wearing them shoes to-day you would be right in thinking that he rode on the “wrong bus” defo.Bewick.

dare say dennis he borrowed them off you mate.

bewick · 20 September 2010 21:36

altitude:

Bewick:

altitude:
What a nice way of putting it Dennis…road on the wrong bus… never had the one before brilliant.

Hiya “altitude” well if I had spelled it out I would have defo got another warning of one of the moderators!!! But don’t think for one minute I was in-ferring that old man Hobbs was a passenger on “said bus” I wasn’t!!! I was merely passing comment on his footwear and suggesting how things have changed(for the worst) over the years!! Cheers Dennis.

Hi Dennis
I was in a pub in Petersfield last night with a few mates, and a guy walked in a bit strange you know what I mean, not in old Hobbs shoes but the rest was there, limp wrist, pink shirt, tipped toed up to the bar, my mate said look at this one, I said he just rode on the wrong bus, they were in fits mate on the floor they said where the hell did you get that one from, I just said Dennis, there not truckers but I will explain to them who you are next time I see them.
cheers

John.

I wouldn’t give them to good a description John they might think you are the “conductor” on the “other bus”!!! Cheers Dennis.