When I started on the wagons in 1990, I was paired with an ex-Harrisons bloke - Bert Hinchcliffe (Hubert). He’d worked for them in the sixties and was a really grand bloke, taught me a lot and regarded me as “a fast learner”. Sadly he took a bad back injury trying to uncouple a drawbar trailer which ended his working days. He lived somewhere around Elland if I remember right. Anyone on here remember him?
I started at Dewsbury about 1959, van lad, I was regular mate to driver John Gillings, a grand fella who taught me a lot. We had an Albion Chieftain, 5 day a week , deliveries between Dewsbury and Manchester during the morning, regular collections round Manchester in the afternoon.
Happy days for a young lad like wot I woz. 
grumpy old man:
I started at Dewsbury about 1959, van lad, I was regular mate to driver John Gillings, a grand fella who taught me a lot. We had an Albion Chieftain, 5 day a week , deliveries between Dewsbury and Manchester during the morning, regular collections round Manchester in the afternoon.
Happy days for a young lad like wot I woz.
I think the correct terminology is “back in the mists of time “ , I know it seems like that to me , I recently heard a lad calling 1978 “the olden days “ , just when I was in my prime .
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.
you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tony
tonyj105:
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tony
That would be interesting to see. Wonder if any survived into preservation?
tonyj105:
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tony
I am certain one of our local agricultural services/contractor (BFS Billericay Farm Services) ran a TL quite late on and possibly into the late 80s early 90s with an auto type coupling on a single axle tanker. Perhaps that was fitted with a converter.
teech:
tonyj105:
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tonyThat would be interesting to see. Wonder if any survived into preservation?
There is an article with pictures in Commercial Motor from 1958.ScammellâSAE. Coupling | 1st August 1958 | The Commercial Motor Archive
Regards John.
old 67:
teech:
tonyj105:
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tonyThat would be interesting to see. Wonder if any survived into preservation?
There is an article with pictures in Commercial Motor from 1958.ScammellâSAE. Coupling | 1st August 1958 | The Commercial Motor Archive
Thanks for uploading.
Regards
TeechRegards John.
tonyj105:
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tony
The article talks about the converter being available if orders were forthcoming - I wonder if it was popular and how well it sold?
grumpy old man:
I started at Dewsbury about 1959, van lad, I was regular mate to driver John Gillings, a grand fella who taught me a lot. We had an Albion Chieftain, 5 day a week , deliveries between Dewsbury and Manchester during the morning, regular collections round Manchester in the afternoon.
Happy days for a young lad like wot I woz.
Were you there in the late 60s when Harrisons ran at least 2 Leyland Ergomatic Octopusses (or should that be Octopii) with trailers, plus at least 1 Leyland Ergo Beaver Tractor Unit, on the runs to Westbourne Road depot in East London.
Looked on Google streetview/satellite and the yard is now housing.
essexpete:
tonyj105:
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tonyI am certain one of our local agricultural services/contractor (BFS Billericay Farm Services) ran a TL quite late on and possibly into the late 80s early 90s with an auto type coupling on a single axle tanker. Perhaps that was fitted with a converter.
I wonder if any photos were taken of it?
ramone:
NMP
love this photo!
sorry…a bit late,only just spotted it 