Hi, LD, thanks for the memories - brings it all back vividly.
Surely any journey through Beetham & Milnthorpe would have involved seeing a certain haulier’s red & white trucks?
Also remember the Cotesgate cafe before Beattock. One poor Hippie hitchhiker, trying to have a snooze leaning across a table, was slung out with the words ‘it’s no a doss house, it’s a cafe for lorry drivers!’
Also Snowman, how odd that we remember specific numbers - 39 mph. One of Bill Keith’s drivers told me his Guy invincible would do 42 mph. Why do we remember these things?
The transport cafe on the left, heading south, at Ecclefechan, where you dipped down into it and pulled up out of it. Where there was no gauge on the tyre inflator and I blew up the wrong one on the double. Deaf for a couple of days. Then tensioning springs without ear defenders. Engines that, as you’ve said, made a great, but loud, noise!
Is that why when it’s quiet now, I hear that snowy noise that you used to get after the TV programmes had finished?
I had a sales lady on the phone a few days ago asking me questions about deafness. I answered yes to everything, she was getting quite excited, but when it came to actually sueing anyone, I could only pin the blame on me!
John West:
Also Snowman, how odd that we remember specific numbers - 39 mph. One of Bill Keith’s drivers told me his Guy invincible would do 42 mph. Why do we remember these things?
John
I reckon it’s because we spent so many hours trying to coaxe just a tiny bit more out of them! From my own experience, I recall a Leyland flat out at 39mph and an Atki at 42- but I forgave her, I was in love with her!
lurpak:
Hi Noel,
did you get the pms I sent you
Ade
Yes thanks Ade I have got that edition of vintage Roadscene but thanks anyway. Regards Noel
By the way Ade did you know a bloke by the name of Geoff Townsend who worked for FOD at one time? regards Noel
Yes Noel I knew him well, can still remember most of the directions he gave me 20 odd years ago to a couple of drops in London when i first started driving Ade
Hi Laurie dryver what some excellent stories just what is needed keep up the good writing .
i used to run with sun valley lads now and again .
were you also on Fransens??
Hi deckboypeggy ,no I didn’t work for Fransens although I used to sub for Henk When I had my own wagons. A couple of the lads I worked with at Sun Valley had worked for Fransens and several had worked for Lloyds of Ludlow. Regards Noel
Hi noel A RENAULT comes in to mind ,i was on ROKOLD when sun valley started export in a big way.we all knew each other by sight but names fail mei was there when john had his accident,rokold subbed a few loads.rgds vic
Here is a picture of the remains of YKX 859M in Trevor Pye’s yard at Wem. I bought it when it was 6 years old and ran it for a further 11 years, selling it at 17 years old for £5500 , not bad depreciation considering it only cost £7900 in October 1973 plus £125 for the 16 speed gearbox option!
Hi Noël…
Yeah I’m good thanks…free of any knives and bull-■■■■.
Hope you are well mate…are you back at Wills then?
Couldn’t work for a company anymore that supported bullying.
Hi to Rowly and Andrew thank you very much for your kind wishes ,I will write some more stuff asap Regards Noel ps Rowly please pass on my regards to Johnny!
I suppose you think that birthdays are some sort of excuse for keeping your public waiting for the next instalment?
And if you think you can catch me in years, you’ve got another think coming, you young whippersnapper!
Many happy returns, matey.
