Yes, This guy loves 'em. He’s got 4 of them now…
the soudley vally fleet in 1967 .
The bus garage at the back of this photo brought a little memory flashback to me.The buses were drove in and one day Wally Dorrington was reversing out and some tourist had stopped his car between the road and the garage.damage done to the car and the coach 
The tourist is very angry but not so much as Mr Bevan who threatens to sue him for parking on private land.
Is my memory playing tricks again, or do I recall that the LAD Beaver had a twin-stick gearbox?
ROF I seem to remember the 6 wheelers had the twin stick. No beaver when I worked there.
Do you not remember GAD523D? Or had you defected to the city of Mitcheldean by then?
Me.Paul.101:
Just wondered if anyone had seen this in one of the recent publications?0
Saw it in one of the recent publications, I believe it’s a cut down Albion Caledonian.I bought two vehicles from Edwards of Lydrook in the 70’s/80’s one was a Mk 1 Atki (SHY 953G) which had come from Cole & Sons in Avonmouth about the Nuttall take over time also a Mk V Mandator (YYE 330) which they had bought as a Mammoth Major from Valiant Transport in St Albans then had it cut down in about 1965 ish. Cutting them down to tractors I presume was to take advantage of the 32 ton artic weight.Regards
As mentioned elsewhere on this site, four or five of George’s Octopusses (Octopii?) were cut down and made into artics. As far as I can recall, they were all new as 8-wheelers in around 1962. I was awarded 1100AD on my first day at BRS, Mitcheldean and when I got the ■■■■ thing back to the depot I expressed my decision that I wouldn’t be taking part in proceedings for a second day unless there was something better I could drive.
That’s when I got my beloved AEC Mercury.
The Albion artic in the photo must have departed for pastures new when I arrived as I have no recollection of any Albions with that cab.
I dont remember that Albion but I can recall LYN 676? being converted to a unit.Rof.Those Octupuses were late 1950,s models,and as an outsider you should have been gratefull to drive anything 
If I’d been content to drive “anything” I could have stayed where I was on an S-type Bedford! At least it was quite a bit quieter (you could sometimes hear the radio), a bit faster (about another 20mph) and you could choose not to have an all-over massage when it was moving!
But, as a 21 year old I was keen to be a “proper” lorry driver, hauling big loads all over the country on a big lorry (I had watched the series, “Cannonball” on t.v. and been to the cinema to see “The Hell Drivers”). 
And I got my passport stamped at Aston Crews once a week while Rusty Matthews checked my work permit every time I refuelled! And I’ll have you know I attended a course in “Understanding the Folklore & Language of the Forest” at my own expense held at the Royal Forest pub by Gerald Linnell, whom I guess you will remember.
Laurie Dryver:
Me.Paul.101:
Just wondered if anyone had seen this in one of the recent publications?Saw it in one of the recent publications, I believe it’s a cut down Albion Caledonian.I bought two vehicles from Edwards of Lydrook in the 70’s/80’s one was a Mk 1 Atki (SHY 953G) which had come from Cole & Sons in Avonmouth about the Nuttall take over time also a Mk V Mandator (YYE 330) which they had bought as a Mammoth Major from Valiant Transport in St Albans then had it cut down in about 1965 ish. Cutting them down to tractors I presume was to take advantage of the 32 ton artic weight.Regards
yye 330 when my father drove her (note she has 40 x 8 wheels!)
and when cut down to a tractor unit (now on tubeless rims) photo copyright to mr cypher.
Great old photo,s 
Keep it up lads.
wideboybob:
Laurie Dryver:
Me.Paul.101:
Just wondered if anyone had seen this in one of the recent publications?2
Saw it in one of the recent publications, I believe it’s a cut down Albion Caledonian.I bought two vehicles from Edwards of Lydrook in the 70’s/80’s one was a Mk 1 Atki (SHY 953G) which had come from Cole & Sons in Avonmouth about the Nuttall take over time also a Mk V Mandator (YYE 330) which they had bought as a Mammoth Major from Valiant Transport in St Albans then had it cut down in about 1965 ish. Cutting them down to tractors I presume was to take advantage of the 32 ton artic weight.Regards
1yye 330 when my father drove her (note she has 40 x 8 wheels!)0and when cut down to a tractor unit (now on tubeless rims) photo copyright to mr cypher.
Hi WBB thank you so much for putting the photos of YYE 330 on here, I have a copy of the one as a tractor unit (courtesy of Adrian Cypher) but had never seen it as a rigid. She had an untimely demise in Llanwern when shunting and a load of pipes from the pipe mill came through the cab ,fortunately the driver was ok as he jumped clear.Regards
Laurie Dryver:
wideboybob:
Laurie Dryver:
Me.Paul.101:
Just wondered if anyone had seen this in one of the recent publications?2
Saw it in one of the recent publications, I believe it’s a cut down Albion Caledonian.I bought two vehicles from Edwards of Lydrook in the 70’s/80’s one was a Mk 1 Atki (SHY 953G) which had come from Cole & Sons in Avonmouth about the Nuttall take over time also a Mk V Mandator (YYE 330) which they had bought as a Mammoth Major from Valiant Transport in St Albans then had it cut down in about 1965 ish. Cutting them down to tractors I presume was to take advantage of the 32 ton artic weight.Regards
1yye 330 when my father drove her (note she has 40 x 8 wheels!)0and when cut down to a tractor unit (now on tubeless rims) photo copyright to mr cypher.
Hi WBB thank you so much for putting the photos of YYE 330 on here, I have a copy of the one as a tractor unit (courtesy of Adrian Cypher) but had never seen it as a rigid. She had an untimely demise in Llanwern when shunting and a load of pipes from the pipe mill came through the cab ,fortunately the driver was ok as he jumped clear.Regards
we always thought it was a recabed MK3 as it was on those 40 x 8 wheels. but they went a little quicker with them on!.spent many a happy day sat in YYE. going to ebbw vale ,having to sit in the gatehouse till dad came back out. (we are talking 1966/67 here!). she was cut down into a tractor unit along with the 10 walls ice cream 8 wheelers . cannot find a pic of the atkinson yet. bob.
wideboybob:
Laurie Dryver:
wideboybob:
Laurie Dryver:
Me.Paul.101:
Just wondered if anyone had seen this in one of the recent publications?2
Saw it in one of the recent publications, I believe it’s a cut down Albion Caledonian.I bought two vehicles from Edwards of Lydrook in the 70’s/80’s one was a Mk 1 Atki (SHY 953G) which had come from Cole & Sons in Avonmouth about the Nuttall take over time also a Mk V Mandator (YYE 330) which they had bought as a Mammoth Major from Valiant Transport in St Albans then had it cut down in about 1965 ish. Cutting them down to tractors I presume was to take advantage of the 32 ton artic weight.Regards
1yye 330 when my father drove her (note she has 40 x 8 wheels!)0and when cut down to a tractor unit (now on tubeless rims) photo copyright to mr cypher.
Hi WBB thank you so much for putting the photos of YYE 330 on here, I have a copy of the one as a tractor unit (courtesy of Adrian Cypher) but had never seen it as a rigid. She had an untimely demise in Llanwern when shunting and a load of pipes from the pipe mill came through the cab ,fortunately the driver was ok as he jumped clear.Regards
we always thought it was a recabed MK3 as it was on those 40 x 8 wheels. but they went a little quicker with them on!.spent many a happy day sat in YYE. going to ebbw vale ,having to sit in the gatehouse till dad came back out. (we are talking 1966/67 here!). she was cut down into a tractor unit along with the 10 walls ice cream 8 wheelers . cannot find a pic of the atkinson yet. bob.
Hi Bob ,SHY 953G was a late MK 1 Atkinson which was new to Cole & Sons of Avonmouth who were bought out by Nuttalls at the same time that they bought Edwards and Vineys of Bruton consequently SHY was transferred to Lydbrook. When I bought it , it had been painted in BSC livery and had an immobilizer/security lock fitted for the work from Ebbw Vale. The 6LXB dropped a valve after about 6 months and I sold it as a non runner to a man in Northern Ireland ( Mr Duffy). I think I negotiated the deal for YYE and paid £350 for it with 6 almost new 11.22.5 tyres (good old Arthur Preston). Later on in the 2nd deal I paid £2100 for SHY & 2x40’ coilers and a 28 footer thrown in with the deal.Those were the days eh!Regards Noel
Steve eventually got round to firing her up after 13 years laid up.Changed the batteries and sorted fuel out and away she went. Great news for the 30 year old truck…
