I would appreciate if anyone can share some memories of AS Jones in Bromborough, where my Dad, Allan Dodd, worked in the 70s and 80s. At some point during this period they became part of P&O. I can dimly remember the yard being relatively close to the river Mersey but since the area was reveloped into a massive retail and light industrial park, I can’t even figure out from Google Maps where it even was. My Dad passed away in 2016 and I’m trying to explain to my daughters what it was like to be a small kid riding high in the cab and the excitement of sometimes sharing a short haul journey with Dad. I did visit the yard occasionally but all I can remember is it being at the end of an industrial road, close by the grey river and it always raining! If anyone has any anecdotes, it would be lovely to fill in some gaps in my memory as I was too small to really internalise it. Thanks, guys! Andy
I would appreciate if anyone can share some memories of AS Jones in Bromborough, where my Dad, Allan Dodd, worked in the 70s and 80s. At some point during this period they became part of P&O. I can dimly remember the yard being relatively close to the river Mersey but since the area was reveloped into a massive retail and light industrial park, I can’t even figure out from Google Maps where it even was. My Dad passed away in 2016 and I’m trying to explain to my daughters what it was like to be a small kid riding high in the cab and the excitement of sometimes sharing a short haul journey with Dad. I did visit the yard occasionally but all I can remember is it being at the end of an industrial road, close by the grey river and it always raining! If anyone has any anecdotes, it would be lovely to fill in some gaps in my memory as I was too small to really internalise it. Thanks, guys! Andy
I went there only once, Andy, but I do know that it was in Commercial Road, Bromborough. I worked for Pandoro at Fleetwood and, because Pandoro had its own driving school, it was tasked with delivering tachograph training to other group companies, I went with the instructor as a “gofer” to Bromborough, must have been 1980, I suppose.
If I remember rightly, Jones was a part of Coast Lines, as was Northern Ireland Trailers, and so would have become part of P&O in the early 70s. The new P&O corporate livery was rolled out across the group in, I think,1976, so making the P&O ownership more obvious
I would appreciate if anyone can share some memories of AS Jones in Bromborough, where my Dad, Allan Dodd, worked in the 70s and 80s. At some point during this period they became part of P&O. I can dimly remember the yard being relatively close to the river Mersey but since the area was reveloped into a massive retail and light industrial park, I can’t even figure out from Google Maps where it even was. My Dad passed away in 2016 and I’m trying to explain to my daughters what it was like to be a small kid riding high in the cab and the excitement of sometimes sharing a short haul journey with Dad. I did visit the yard occasionally but all I can remember is it being at the end of an industrial road, close by the grey river and it always raining! If anyone has any anecdotes, it would be lovely to fill in some gaps in my memory as I was too small to really internalise it. Thanks, guys! Andy
I went there only once, Andy, but I do know that it was in Commercial Road, Bromborough. I worked for Pandoro at Fleetwood and, because Pandoro had its own driving school, it was tasked with delivering tachograph training to other group companies, I went with the instructor as a “gofer” to Bromborough, must have been 1980, I suppose.
If I remember rightly, Jones was a part of Coast Lines, as was Northern Ireland Trailers, and so would have become part of P&O in the early 70s. The new P&O corporate livery was rolled out across the group in, I think,1976, so making the P&O ownership more obvious
Tremendously helpful, thank you! Commercial Road rang a bell and geographically when I saw it on Google, it definitely was in the location as I remembered it - a bit ‘end of the road to nowhere’ LOL. I am actually wondering if the old yard was actually what is now Mulrock Aggregates with all of the buildings and sheds demolished. In my mind’s eye, it was a left turn into the yard and it was right by the river. But I could be wrong about that.
I remember the light blue P&O livery coming in as I used to draw pictures of the trucks at school and thought the new paint job was very impressive. I also had to smile reading your comment about tachographs. My Dad didn’t like it at all when the tacho replaced the old log book system; he was very much a free spirit and didn’t like what he regarded as ‘the man’ tracking his movements and whereabouts!
Was the tyre fitter there for about 18 months-2 years, iirc, would have been circa 1990. Commercial Road in Bromborough, next to FMC Lithium I think, and as you said right next to the Mersey.
They changed from light blue to and white to dark blue and white, and bought a job lot of new ERFs when they got the fuels contract at Stanlow, had a mixed fleet including DAFs, ERFs and at least one Sed Atk. Had their own paint shop (Nobby) and did good work.
Your dad would have been before my time, but I’m in contact still with one of the young (at the time!) fitters who may have remembered him.
It was good place, never seemed to be many dull moments in my short time there. Some things will live with me forever, like one of the drivers who parked his car in front of his truck to put his stuff in on a Monday morning, started the truck to warm it up and forgot it was in gear. He smashed the sh*t out of his car and we were all (privately) rolling round laughing about it.
Also remember one or two drivers coming into the yard (right past the office) in their trucks, then asking me to drive them out of the gate in the boot of their own car, and jump out up the road so they could get a night out
I remember crawling under and all around an ERF in AS Jones yard. It must have been one of the very first SAMT which was a forerunner of the Eaton TS12. I was impressed then. A good TS12 can still put a smile on my face.
Wheel Nut:
I remember crawling under and all around an ERF in AS Jones yard. It must have been one of the very first SAMT which was a forerunner of the Eaton TS12. I was impressed then. A good TS12 can still put a smile on my face.
I thought the SAMT was an automated version of the ETS12 and came later. Many SAMT ERFs were converted back to manual because the automated version wasn’t popular.
Wheel Nut:
I remember crawling under and all around an ERF in AS Jones yard. It must have been one of the very first SAMT which was a forerunner of the Eaton TS12. I was impressed then. A good TS12 can still put a smile on my face.
I thought the SAMT was an automated version of the ETS12 and came later. Many SAMT ERFs were converted back to manual because the automated version wasn’t popular.
I think you are correct from Commercial Motor Archives. I am wondering whether this was a prototype SAMT and was being trialled by P&O with Eaton engineers.
Wheel Nut:
I remember crawling under and all around an ERF in AS Jones yard. It must have been one of the very first SAMT which was a forerunner of the Eaton TS12. I was impressed then. A good TS12 can still put a smile on my face.
I thought the SAMT was an automated version of the ETS12 and came later. Many SAMT ERFs were converted back to manual because the automated version wasn’t popular.
I think you are correct from Commercial Motor Archives. I am wondering whether this was a prototype SAMT and was being trialled by P&O with Eaton engineers.
Wheel Nut:
I remember crawling under and all around an ERF in AS Jones yard. It must have been one of the very first SAMT which was a forerunner of the Eaton TS12. I was impressed then. A good TS12 can still put a smile on my face.
I thought the SAMT was an automated version of the ETS12 and came later. Many SAMT ERFs were converted back to manual because the automated version wasn’t popular.
I think you are correct from Commercial Motor Archives. I am wondering whether this was a prototype SAMT and was being trialled by P&O with Eaton engineers.
I think Dean’s magazine article above seems to confirm your hunch WheelNut!
