Now then: I’ve got the correct information about those Trans Arabia ERF NGCs on trailers, as posted earlier. Jerry Cooke has been in touch with me and I can report as follows.
This picture shows B-series TA 117 pulling a platform skelly (PSK) trailer with NGC TA 139 on the front and NGC TA 110 on the rear. Both had been damaged and were being returned to S Jones for serious repair. TA 110 had been taking a load of reinforcing mesh to a building site somewhere up Ta’if mountain, and had turned over.
These two were loaded on an old tilt converted into a PSK and hauled by an ERF LV-cabbed unit, either TA 105 or 106. The NGCs were being delivered to Trans Arabia.
Robert
Trans Arabia , the characters there we to had some laughs!!! on a night we would go up to the canteen for a late supper ? " After taking the chain of the fridge" this is true no mater what some one says ? Taffie Bill cooked chips in best butter no kidding , all the Mosola oil had been used to set fire to 114 up the top of Tief I can still see the yellow froth on the top of the pan ? The chips where stogie and slippery , but the banta in the canteen was of good humour Ron,
@Ron…did you read the post from Pete Smith on the S. Jones-reunion this month?
When Martin comes, take his lighter and not his comb…have an enjoyable time!
ERF-Continental:
@Ron…did you read the post from Pete Smith on the S. Jones-reunion this month?
When Martin comes, take his lighter and not his comb…have an enjoyable time!
Thanks A-J , I won’t swop him for this genuine Bedouins" thigh "ring !Ron. Ps did you notice Dennis Purchase name T/A good driver !!
Wow, don’t hit me or don’t knock on a door-window!
Herewith an update on the TA-staff with again thanks for all input.
I hope it will be of use during the SJ-reunion and brings back a lot
of nice memories, even pictures…we are over 60 employees now!
The register on the TA-fleet is quite impressive with 4 A4-excelsheets
but I prefer to wait giving others the bonus as Jerry Cooke, Ken Broster
and possibly others might release novelties. Let’s await the SJ-reunion.
Why was it that all Jeddah workshops looked the same ■■ I just remembered that at SARAMAT we used to carry a light board as most of the trailers coming in had no taillights…some drivers would put the on and the call the sparkie saying they were wired up back to front !!!DOH just one more little thing to laugh about !!
Inshalah
ERF-Continental:
Wow, don’t hit me or don’t knock on a door-window!
Herewith an update on the TA-staff with again thanks for all input.
I hope it will be of use during the SJ-reunion and brings back a lot
of nice memories, even pictures…we are over 60 employees now!
The register on the TA-fleet is quite impressive with 4 A4-excelsheets
but I prefer to wait giving others the bonus as Jerry Cooke, Ken Broster
and possibly others might release novelties. Let’s await the SJ-reunion.
How was Peter Slymn related to Les?
Having just received a message off Jerry ,& Jona ,to the S Jones reunion!! Thanks for that , I will attend after some 37 years ? Ron ,
Hope the weather is fine ? Mirlin how about coming down for the Reunion you would be made most welcome ■■
ronhawk:
Hope the weather is fine ? Mirlin how about coming down for the Reunion you would be made most welcome ■■
Wirlin ? The lighter ? I did have one of those and like everything els I sold it , yours looks brand new ? I hope you can still " use" it "■■ I still have some fuel left and light UP with out the aide of two sticks when I get chance !!! I well remember adjusting the oil pressure on the 1/2 cab GUY buss ? To do this you had to lie across the NSF wing ■■ with the Gardner 5 & 6 LW ticking over ? the wing vibrated !!! That’s probably the reason for my love of all things that move better with the right lubrication , Ron
This engine was the best of British and The BEST IN THE WORLD ? From the canal barge to the straight 8cl i used to line up all the counter sunk window screws on the cylinder head To a vertical position and polish the copper pipes , When the engines came in for compleat overhaul ? You had to dig through a thick mass of fur like sludge to find the head nuts , the oil filter was a cloth stocking ! ■■■■■■■ with string we use to burn the stocking off !! it really did get your hands grimy , it "was the same though out the engine , we used to boil the crank cases with a gas jet the length of the tank In Perchlorethylene this gave off a steam it’s no wander that we where not poisoned in an enclosed shed!! Then the new oil ? Came the Detergent oil it was the a revolution the engines ran much cleaner you could even see the rocker shaft and valve springs !!! Oil oil oil the world runs on it ,The Western world develops it ,the the Middle East is the cause of all the trouble through it. Ron. Ps on reflection this engine really was the BEST IN THE WORLD . WE ARE TALKING MORE THAN A MILLION MILESwith good maintenance Ron
The calibrating of the Gardner fuel Pump was a job I realy liked , to wind up the crome wheel on the test rig ,to a set RPMs with the 6 marked. Glass Test tubes shaking with the injection of fuel rattling sound was absorbing tipping out the test tubes monitering the flow, knowing that you where responsible for the engines Performance for the next Million miles with the correct matainance feeling the GOV coming in at 1700 to 1900 controlling the Max was very satisfactory!! The man I worked under at the bus depo Herbert Wolf had the tip of his finger cut off ? Lining up the crank case into the enginge frame you can see the holes in the bell housing ,top photo , that was before I worked there ,There was one Gardner knocking about in Jeddah I think it was a Scammell ? Gipsy Dave will remember it ?thinking back to S Jones We used to start up the Gardners on very cold and frosty mornings pushing up the cold start on the front of the fuel pump and cracking them up There was a line of trucks ,all blowing smoke ringsfrom the front mounting silencer ,this was for the early birds !! the sights and sounds of yesterday !! Ron. Ps correct me if I am wrong ? The only diesel with automatic advance and ■■■■■■ way back then !!! I know I am going on a bit but it’s raining out side ? Ron.
@Ron, wonderful highlights on Gardner, I am as you know not entitled to judge, being not neutral
and with strong preference for ■■■■■■■■ …
Please assure that pictures are made during/of the reunion, it will look a bit like Dads Army I suppose?
Good you join the part and keep the memories going! A-J
A-J IT was the engine of yesterday , Gardner with its intricate design and all its moving complicated parts build is probably why it faded away ? But they are a treasure , the Modern engines you know that I am also ■■■■■■■ its power that can be developed from the standard parts is a winner , and in my opinion that’s certainly the engine for all temp , reliable and strong , The dads army I like the image I am getting ■■ Like the song ,who will be there what will I see there !! Who will be the big surprise , !!! if there’s a " señorita " there with dark and flashing eyes , this is where Mirlin comes ? !!! That will be the big surprise Ron
@Ron, for sure you are not Pike, nor Frazer, nor Wilson but far more Jonesy!!!
ERF-Continental:
@Ron, for sure you are not Pike, nor Frazer, nor Wilson but far more Jonesy!!!
No A-J, Ron is very closely related to Walker…
John
A-J. You have made me smile from ear to ear Jonesy !! more like Joe Walker ,Ducking and diving !! Ron
Have a laugh…wheeling and dealing!!!
Wow, the time of your life!
Who was Warden Hodges (greengrocer with green Bedford) in TransArabian life?
