Me.Paul.101:
Hi Guy’s. I think you will find that 2477 AD was run by James Smith and then bought and resprayed into BRS red for Mitcheldean.
I would agree with that Paul , the side boards featured in Smiths fleet , as they did a lot out of Whiteheads in Newport , regards Keith ,
Another anecdote-
One local haulier asked why James Smith insisted on using platformed 8-wheelers to haul coal when everyone else used tippers. Cliff was reputed to have replied, “Give 'em a big lorry and a big shovel and they won’t need a tipper”.
Thanks Old67 , i know the Halifax to Keighley road well .I can imagine there would have been some smoke and noise (and a big queue) when they were climbing the hill towards Illingworth. I`m from Bradford i think 2 sites still exist here one at Legrams Lane and another at Low Moor
ramone:
Thanks Old67 , i know the Halifax to Keighley road well .I can imagine there would have been some smoke and noise (and a big queue) when they were climbing the hill towards Illingworth. I`m from Bradford i think 2 sites still exist here one at Legrams Lane and another at Low Moor
Aye, smoke and noise there was !! Used to get a lot of J H Ashworth lorries struggling up past our house in Illingworth in the evening loaded with wool. I assume they would later turn off right down Thornton Road and then cut across to Allerton ?
Regards. John.
old 67:
ramone:
Thanks Old67 , i know the Halifax to Keighley road well .I can imagine there would have been some smoke and noise (and a big queue) when they were climbing the hill towards Illingworth. I`m from Bradford i think 2 sites still exist here one at Legrams Lane and another at Low MoorAye, smoke and noise there was !! Used to get a lot of J H Ashworth lorries struggling up past our house in Illingworth in the evening loaded with wool. I assume they would later turn off right down Thornton Road and then cut across to Allerton ?
Regards. John.
I lived not far from JC Ashworths yard in Allerton and not too far from Henry Longs yard too both long gone and their premises have gone too ,the latter now being the school where a teacher was stabbed recently
One for Trev H,not saying you that old to remember this motor,but the yard should be familiar,left click for full text, and here is the rest of the picture i forgot to post 
Cheer’s Pete
You’re right Pete, I don’t remember that lorry but I did work in that yard in Jenner st./ Bilston rd. It would have been carrying scrap to Brymbo steelworks at Wrexham, usually a night job.
pete smith:
One for Trev H,not saying you that old to remember this motor,but the yard should be familiar,left click for full text,Cheer’s Pete
Those BRS Guys did alot out of Goodyear, especially to Vauxhall at Luton , regards Keith .
kingswinford kit:
pete smith:
One for Trev H,not saying you that old to remember this motor,but the yard should be familiar,left click for full text,Cheer’s PeteThose BRS Guys did alot out of Goodyear, especially to Vauxhall at Luton , regards Keith .
That’s right Keith, most of the work out of Wolves was Goodyear but other jobs were GKN Sankey, Rubery Owen, Palmer scaffolding, Nicholls timber and later Delta metals. I worked on most of those jobs but I was mainly on general haulage working for other depots around the Midlands.
In fact I was once hired out to another depot for 4 years but they didn’t get rid of me that easy 
, stuck it out from BRS to Exel to DHL, I finished recently after 38 yrs with them.
Cheers for that Trev H , when you mention GKN Sankey was that Wellington (Telford) branch ? I cant remember them having Guys their ,it was mostly AECs , regards Keith .
Cheers for that Trev H , when you mention GKN Sankey was that Wellington (Telford) branch ? I cant remember them having Guys their ,it was mostly AECs , regards Keith .
Wellington depot did a lot of work for GKN at Hadley Telford, but at Wolves depot we did work for GKN Sankey at Bilston. That work was mainly mini subframes to Longbridge and beer kegs to Hereford Galvanisers.
Hours & hours, Boris!
But not days & days, like Liverpool! And there was always the possibility of a locally based BRS bloke already in the queue taking the odd small package off you.
Shame about the chassis & wheels!
I think that one was registered 1101AD. They could have waited until it was chopped into an artic before they painted it. If memory serves, it was GP24 in artic form that was my first lorry at Mitcheldean. It lasted just the one day with me then I gently and politely informed the office that I would be taking no further part in the fun unless they found something just a little better for Day 2. I must have impressed them with my argument as they issued me with one of the best vehicles in the depot to play with.
Which reminds me, I’ve never seen a photo of that second vehicle, AEC Mercury artic, reg ADG611B, not sure of the fleet number but GP52 seems to ring a bell. Anyone help?
Retired Old ■■■■:
Shame about the chassis & wheels!
I think that one was registered 1101AD. They could have waited until it was chopped into an artic before they painted it. If memory serves, it was GP24 in artic form that was my first lorry at Mitcheldean. It lasted just the one day with me then I gently and politely informed the office that I would be taking no further part in the fun unless they found something just a little better for Day 2. I must have impressed them with my argument as they issued me with one of the best vehicles in the depot to play with.
Which reminds me, I’ve never seen a photo of that second vehicle, AEC Mercury artic, reg ADG611B, not sure of the fleet number but GP52 seems to ring a bell. Anyone help?
Hi ROF , maybe ADG 611B was ex James Smith English Bicknor ! , regards Keith .
Hi, Boris, absolutely no contest, pal! We only had the one Seddon at our depot and it was kept as a spare for use when “our” lorries were being serviced. It was on a par with those elderly Leylands for power & comfort!
Have to say you’re wrong on this occasion, Keith. ADG came new to George Read and was first driven by Andy Workman. It stayed in the GR colours throughout the time I had it, with only the fleet number on the front quarter panels to identify it as a BRS motor. It was a real flyer after the workshop lads had played with the fuel pump and would even keep up with our shop steward’s 11.3 Mammoth. When the Big Js came I initially had to be persuaded to let the Mercury go but after the first trip in the Guy I was hooked!
