spike74:
0
Hiya,
Great stuff “spike74”, I did work for Walshy and have driven this motor, notice
the warning lights on the cab top they used to flash individually and were just
a pair of foglights throwing out white light only a 150 Gardner if my memory is
still working and struggled a bit with some of the weights she had to move,and
hope business is good in Watery Lane I used to drive for Deans as well.
thanks harry, long retired.
Hiya. Thanks for the comments everyone! The Walsh photos were all posted on here courtesy of an old hand and great friend Malcolm Scott.
spike74:
Hiya. Thanks for the comments everyone! The Walsh photos were all posted on here courtesy of an old hand and great friend Malcolm Scott.
Hiya,
“Spike74” I would think Malcolm will remember me but it is well over 40 years ago.
thanks harry, long retired.
Apologies for the glut of photographs featuring recovery vehicles, but this ERF may be of interest to one or two of you Blackburn lads.
It’s one of Bowker’s old motors. Reg no. YCB 147 M. I believe the fleet no. Was 29.
If anyone out there drove it, and wondered what happened to it, well there’s your answer.
Cheers. Eddie.
This was one of two A Series ERFs at Bowkers. The other one went on to be stretched and used as a recovery vehicle at Bowkers, this one was eventually cut up for scrap after not being sold at the A17 auction a number of years ago. In the interim period, it was bought back by Bowkers Technical Director, the late Geoff Whittle with a view to restoring it. It sat behind the sheds at Bamber Bridge alongside another ERF and an ex-Killingbeck flat trailer - all of which were sold off.
Eddie Heaton:
Apologies for the glut of photographs featuring recovery vehicles, but this ERF may be of interest to one or two of you Blackburn lads.It’s one of Bowker’s old motors. Reg no. YCB 147 M. I believe the fleet no. Was 29.
If anyone out there drove it, and wondered what happened to it, well there’s your answer.
Cheers. Eddie.
Hiya the driver who I remember on that ERF was Lenny Clough.The first time he went abroad was
in it.
marky:
This was one of two A Series ERFs at Bowkers. The other one went on to be stretched and used as a recovery vehicle at Bowkers, this one was eventually cut up for scrap after not being sold at the A17 auction a number of years ago. In the interim period, it was bought back by Bowkers Technical Director, the late Geoff Whittle with a view to restoring it. It sat behind the sheds at Bamber Bridge alongside another ERF and an ex-Killingbeck flat trailer - all of which were sold off.
Actually, there were three! The one that Geoff bought back (personally) was ACB 298N, ex-Blackburn Corporation. It had a 220 ■■■■■■■ with the lightweight Fuller and I presume that XCB 147M was the same, both being intended for short Continental hops.
The day cab motor which was later stretched, was YBV 85M, and which was new as a ‘Flyer’ (i.e. day/night trunk motor) at Liverpool Depot. This had a 6-speed David Brown gearbox behind its 220, and was fine on a motorway and hopeless off it! Not sure of the top speed, but it was upper 60s, at least, I think.
harry_gill:
Hiya,
Is there anyone on here who remembers Deans of Darwen a little four wagon firm
three rigid’s and one Atki borderer artic bought because I had the only class one
licence at the time, I know the Guvnor Geoff Catlow passed away not all that long
ago and I’ve spoken via Trucknet to the lad who now owns Deans garage which is
a repair centre for commercial vehicles in Watery lane Darwen , Did Deans have
to shut shop with the demise of Courtaulds their main and only customer I never
carried anything else other than when he got me the artic and I took it on tramp
finding my own return loads, I think the Courtaulds work was subbied via Nuttall’s
then in Heywood at least the work was sorted out through “Nuttie’s” shunter who
was based at Greenfield works North Wales.
thanks harry, long retired.
Hi Harry, I used to work at Deans about 69/70 but I don’t recall you.my name is John,at that time i drove a B reg Dodge on the Knowles pipe works job.then I got on the Courtaulds job with old Jimmy little Jack and David Green.I left and then went back about 74 and drove Atki for a few weeks.If I remember I might have been the only driver left. Cheers John.
boywonder:
harry_gill:
Hiya,
Is there anyone on here who remembers Deans of Darwen a little four wagon firm
three rigid’s and one Atki borderer artic bought because I had the only class one
licence at the time, I know the Guvnor Geoff Catlow passed away not all that long
ago and I’ve spoken via Trucknet to the lad who now owns Deans garage which is
a repair centre for commercial vehicles in Watery lane Darwen , Did Deans have
to shut shop with the demise of Courtaulds their main and only customer I never
carried anything else other than when he got me the artic and I took it on tramp
finding my own return loads, I think the Courtaulds work was subbied via Nuttall’s
then in Heywood at least the work was sorted out through “Nuttie’s” shunter who
was based at Greenfield works North Wales.
thanks harry, long retired.Hi Harry, I used to work at Deans about 69/70 but I don’t recall you.my name is John,at that time i drove a B reg Dodge on the Knowles pipe works job.then I got on the Courtaulds job with old Jimmy little Jack and David Green.I left and then went back about 74 and drove Atki for a few weeks.If I remember I might have been the only driver left. Cheers John.
Hiya,
Hello John, it would have been late 71 when I started for Geoff on the same B reg
Dodge as you yourself drove, because I had a class 1 licence he bought the Atki I
did long distance work with this motor but wasn’t there very long leaving Darwen
and moving to the North East in 72, Old Jimmy I remember well and Dave Green I
do remember another driver shortish chap but his name escapes me those three
drove Seddons two six wheelers and Old Jimmy the four wheeler and I got the Atki
brand new, Geoff always kept his motors tidy and I used to get a few bob extra
for doing a bit of maintenance as and when required, John did you take or have a
picture or two to post on here ■■ nice to see something of the old firm again, I did
work for many firms in the area when I lived in Darwen Walsh (twice), Killingbeck
(twice), Bowker (twice), Harwood Meggitt, King’s and Riding’s and a couple or so
more further afield Oh’ Nearly forgot my favourite BRS Blackburn were I worked
twice and was laid off twice, Happy days.
thanks harry, long retired.
Yes Harry I have just one photo in b/w of a D reg tilt cab Dodge that I got for the Holywell job.I will get my son to put it on here when he can.The little chap was called Jack Hawthornthaite,he drove the first Seddon four wheeler on the fleet,I got second one TTE 377 H,all the rest were 777. Happy days.cheers John
boywonder:
Yes Harry I have just one photo in b/w of a D reg tilt cab Dodge that I got for the Holywell job.I will get my son to put it on here when he can.The little chap was called Jack Hawthornthaite,he drove the first Seddon four wheeler on the fleet,I got second one TTE 377 H,all the rest were 777. Happy days.cheers John
Hiya,
Hello again John, the name Jack Hawthornthwaite doesn’t ring a bell I’m pretty sure
the driver I remember was called Norman, Old Jimmy, David Green both there, two
really nice lads I imagine Jimmy will have passed away and David will be into his 70s.
thanks harry, long retired.
Harry and John.
Came accross the name Gordon Macmillan - ring any bells from yesteryear ?
I think he drove for Deans.
There was another Seddon 4 wheeler that went to Deans in August 1969 as well as the one in 1970. These were followed by the two 6 wheelers in June and September.
I knew that he bought one for spare when the money was available.
Peter.
Walton man:
Harry and John.Came accross the name Gordon Macmillan - ring any bells from yesteryear ?
I think he drove for Deans.There was another Seddon 4 wheeler that went to Deans in August 1969 as well as the one in 1970. These were followed by the two 6 wheelers in June and September.
I knew that he bought one for spare when the money was available.Peter.
Hiya,
Peter, When I started at Deans there was four vehicles operational in late 1971
if there had been a spare Seddon it certainly wasn’t stored in Watery Lane the
vehicle line-up was two six wheeled Seddons a four wheeled Seddon and the four
wheeled Dodge the oldest motor which I drove being the junior member of staff
the Dodge was very quickly traded in for a new Atki Borderer which I drove with
a new trailer a very nice outfit, I can’t remember any of the reg numbers a little
bit of a regimental set-up with Geoff being an army captain in a previous life.
thanks harry, long retired.
Hiya,
Does anyone remember Kings Transport a haulier based behind Blackburn railway
station, on doing a bit of Googling in that area it looks like what used to be the
depot is now a car park the firm in question ran I think mainly Seddons and they
ran a very tidy fleet carrying “swinging meat” ex Preston Dock I only worked there
for a couple of weeks holiday relief so didn’t know much about them but they did
seem to be short lived maybe it was just me but they seemed to vanish overnight.
thanks harry, long retired.
HI ,Harry , do you remember a firm from iirc , Preston area Burtons brown motors Dodge and tilt cab Albion or Leyland ,used to run into Coutalds Flint and Greenfield , with Deans and Southworths ,and Nuttalds Cheers Barry
b.waddy:
HI ,Harry , do you remember a firm from iirc , Preston area Burtons brown motors Dodge and tilt cab Albion or Leyland ,used to run into Coutalds Flint and Greenfield , with Deans and Southworths ,and Nuttalds Cheers Barry
Hiya,
Sorry Barry,
I can’t re-call Burtons and I worked for Deans on the Cortaulds job I drove
Deans only artic there was also three Seddons two six wheelers and a four wheeler I
just can’t remember seeing Burtons or Southworths in there when I was in and that
was very frequent Courtaulds being the only traffic that Deans had and I think it was
subbied through Nuttalls all the work that Deans carried was day jobs by that I mean
Darwen to Flint load back to Lancs or Yorks area and tip and empty down to Flint the
next day ready for same again myself having the artic did journey work finding my own
return loads
thanks harry, long retired.
harry_gill:
b.waddy:
HI ,Harry , do you remember a firm from iirc , Preston area Burtons brown motors Dodge and tilt cab Albion or Leyland ,used to run into Coutalds Flint and Greenfield , with Deans and Southworths ,and Nuttalds Cheers BarryHiya,
Sorry Barry,
I can’t re-call Burtons and I worked for Deans on the Cortaulds job I drove
Deans only artic there was also three Seddons two six wheelers and a four wheeler I
just can’t remember seeing Burtons or Southworths in there when I was in and that
was very frequent Courtaulds being the only traffic that Deans had and I think it was
subbied through Nuttalls all the work that Deans carried was day jobs by that I mean
Darwen to Flint load back to Lancs or Yorks area and tip and empty down to Flint the
next day ready for same again myself having the artic did journey work finding my own
return loads
thanks harry, long retired.
Burtons yard at Preston is now as a bus company in . They ran about 7 or 8 ALBIONS and LEYLANDS and DODGES 
Cheers for that Lance , they ran a very tidy fleet they were up our end every day ,Cheers Barry
b.waddy:
Cheers for that Lance , they ran a very tidy fleet they were up our end every day ,Cheers Barry
Hi Barry, I vex got a load of slides( that’s what you get for not buying the right film in 1974) of the yard just under the bridge next to Cortaulds, will try to work out how to scan them so you can see them 
Any technical support welcome!
Hiya,
Thought I’d just give this a jolt to see if there’s anything new out there.
thanks harry, long retired.