Hi Sniffy and Steptoe,I’d forgotten about Caledonian,they ran MK5 and tilt cab Mandators and also F86s.They were always in Lindsey Oil Refinery in the 70s and did quite a bit of Aviation fuel IIRC.
My Father worked for Caledonian and then Tankfreight. I ended up there aswell for a while. I remember the 86s and also all the 1418 mercs they ran, on spirit out of Lindsey and on the sulpher job aswell. It seems crazy now when you think of all the health and safety we have today, but I used to go with the old man in my school holidays, in and out of Lindsey hiding in the back of the cab in the 1418 under an old coat sneeking past past the gatehouse.
You will know where this picture was taken Sniffy, I have seen some of your pictures from the same yard, the trucks are backed in opposite the caledonian/tankfreight garage on on Manby Road, North East Truck IVECO now.
I Don’t remember seeing many of the Volvo’s about, but in the mid 70’s I think the merc’s were the main trucks in the fleet, I can’t remember what they used to bring into Trafford Park, presume foodstuffs, did Caledonian have the sugars out of Lincoln ■■
Same Wall opposite the garage
steptoe:
Heres a few of Total Lubes that I took a few months ago.
10 pots 3 pumps 3 hose reels 3 meters
1 is enough for me…
Bloody hell, times have changed since I started in the tanker game, bottom loading etc. my knees are knackered with all those years running up and down ladders. 
steptoe:
I thought it maybe a Conoco lorry, I only remember them in the brown livery. Its also like you say Sniffy, very similar to the Caledonian tankers that ran out of Immingham years ago. They where part of the Forth group.
This tank looks to have cleaning pipes as used on milk tankers, definitely look like milk fittings to me.
stevecook:
steptoe:
I thought it maybe a Conoco lorry, I only remember them in the brown livery. Its also like you say Sniffy, very similar to the Caledonian tankers that ran out of Immingham years ago. They where part of the Forth group.
This tank looks to have cleaning pipes as used on milk tankers, definitely look like milk fittings to me.
Probably is, its well before my time, before Tankfreight when it was still Caledonian I was just a kid spending the school holidays roaming the country with my Dad. I remember the Esso work and the Sulpher they did, also all the Fisons liquids but what else I dont know. I think thats a Scotish reg not a Lincolnshire one,
scarren:
Some from me:
Cheers
I remember delivering here to BATA at Amotherby, it was a regular job for us at Texaco from Manchester and Stanlow.
You are right,“SM” was Dumfriesshire steptoe and that is a nice photo,spent many a time hanging out of all AEC cabs like that going bakkards. 
And “grumpy old man” - you are right,up and down those tank ladders kept yer fit although maybe it’s telling on us now.I do believe that there are some tanker drivers nowadays who have never had to go on top of the trailer,no dipsticks etc,all bottom loading in most refineries now.
Is that correct? 
Bottom loading in the petroleum industry and “ground operated” everywhere else
4 sided handrails, minimum width walkways, air operated this, that and tuther, interlocks, proximity switches, and cut-offs
Suppose it all keeps the workshops busy though
A few pics of what was my trusty steed whilst being a driver on the Texaco contract for Wincanton, me and the mighty horse worked out of Manchester fuel terminal and then Stanlow the tractor is fleet no 8162 registration S551 GFM and the trailor 5030. Often wonder where this unit ended up it was a crackin motor for a ERF…
Nice pics tankerian, do you know John Mckay used to be in the Texaco workshop in Trafford Park
Back to some more oldies from the Darham archives
Chris Webb:
That AEC Mandator looks like Conoco to me Steptoe and were localish to Grimsby as they ran out of Killingholme,still do in fact.They were blue and white at one time and I think their vehicles had long fleet numbers like the one on the cab front.Pity we can’t see the reg. under that Grimsby tradeplate.
Chris it looks like “Continental Oil” which ran out of Penistone as well ( O K I cheated ) look above 
sammyopisite:
Chris Webb:
That AEC Mandator looks like Conoco to me Steptoe and were localish to Grimsby as they ran out of Killingholme,still do in fact.They were blue and white at one time and I think their vehicles had long fleet numbers like the one on the cab front.Pity we can’t see the reg. under that Grimsby tradeplate.Chris it looks like “Continental Oil” which ran out of Penistone as well ( O K I cheated ) look above
I’d forgotten all about their place at Oxspring Sammie.One or two Evans’ and LPG lads worked there and you are right the wagons were all “Continental Oil” not Conoco.It was a good job apparantly but I think it closed in the early 70s,can’t remember,as usual.
Chris Webb:
sammyopisite:
Chris Webb:
That AEC Mandator looks like Conoco to me Steptoe and were localish to Grimsby as they ran out of Killingholme,still do in fact.They were blue and white at one time and I think their vehicles had long fleet numbers like the one on the cab front.Pity we can’t see the reg. under that Grimsby tradeplate.Chris it looks like “Continental Oil” which ran out of Penistone as well ( O K I cheated ) look above
I’d forgotten all about their place at Oxspring Sammie.One or two Evans’ and LPG lads worked there and you are right the wagons were all “Continental Oil” not Conoco.It was a good job apparantly but I think it closed in the early 70s,can’t remember,as usual.
Chris one of the Sheffield lads on Sheaf went to “Amoco” Doncaster and then he ran out of Oxspring last time I saw him was late 80s early 90s he was still running out of there Frankie I don’t know if you knew him but he will old like you 
sammyopisite:
Chris Webb:
sammyopisite:
Chris Webb:
That AEC Mandator looks like Conoco to me Steptoe and were localish to Grimsby as they ran out of Killingholme,still do in fact.They were blue and white at one time and I think their vehicles had long fleet numbers like the one on the cab front.Pity we can’t see the reg. under that Grimsby tradeplate.Chris it looks like “Continental Oil” which ran out of Penistone as well ( O K I cheated ) look above
I’d forgotten all about their place at Oxspring Sammie.One or two Evans’ and LPG lads worked there and you are right the wagons were all “Continental Oil” not Conoco.It was a good job apparantly but I think it closed in the early 70s,can’t remember,as usual.Chris one of the Sheffield lads on Sheaf went to “Amoco” Doncaster and then he ran out of Oxspring last time I saw him was late 80s early 90s he was still running out of there Frankie I don’t know if you knew him but he will old like you
Aye,thanks grandad.It weren’t Frankie Laine were it 'cos you went down a lane to Oxspring.So when did that terminal close then? A bloke I knew called Ray Saxton worked there but went to LPG Orgreave in the late 60s when Continental packed in there - so he told me.He got a shock driving for them on that tar job after the Oxspring work
Any History on the tanker company and the workshop chaps, looks like Oswald Tillotson on the wall sign
And a longer shot of the Continental fuels fleet for location ?
Operator can you put me through to Morley Two Zero please.
Brilliant picture of Oswald Tillotsons garage.
hanson-logistics.com/History.aspx
Oswald Tillotson was the name of the large commercial vehicle garage at Burnley on Manchester Road. They were main agents for AEC and at one time built cabs for them.
yorkshirepost.co.uk/obituari … 6499859.jp
yorkshirepost.co.uk/1299/Fon … .884424.jp
boden:
I’ll give you an idea of how Leyland Group could lose customers.In 1969 my family bought from Oswald Tillotson in Trafford Park a AEC Mercury rigid after good service from a couple of consecutively bought Morris 7 tonners. At 23000mls a con rod went through the block on the A1. The wagon was still under warrranty so it was a surprise when a very big bill for parts and labour turned up .My brother queried this in no uncertain terms and after a lot of letter writing including to Southall with no sucess, he wrote to the top man at what had become Lex Tillotson. In fairness he rapidly sorted this out and suggested a charge for towing from Leeming to Bradford and everything else written off, which was agreed to.
And the rest, as they say is History 
Imperial
1 Like
Sniffy:
What a fantastic picture, loads of history, the lorry, phone number even the garage door is interesting. Just had a look on the net and CHG was issued in Burnley from April 1954.
steptoe:
Sniffy:
What a fantastic picture, loads of history, the lorry, phone number even the garage door is interesting. Just had a look on the net and CHG was issued in Burnley from April 1954.
I agree steptoe,a great photo,thanks sniffy 
That AEC looks brand new,not be like that long.
IIRC Tillotsons had a place in Bradford and A.E.Evans got a lot of spares for their secondhand AEC MK3s and 5s from there.Just trying to think of the AEC agents at Barton Dock Estate,Trafford Park,maybe that was Tillotsons as well.I ought to know,I went in often enough
Maybe the Continental Oil photo was taken at Killingholme?
“Reverse charge call please,Morley 20”,no probs remembering that eh Malc? Not like Dominion 0285 or 01-592-0285 as it was later for Evans’ Barking depot.
Chris Webb:
steptoe:
Maybe the Continental Oil photo was taken at Killingholme?
“Reverse charge call please,Morley 20”,no probs remembering that eh Malc? Not like Dominion 0285 or 01-592-0285 as it was later for Evans’ Barking depot.
As we as lorry drivers learn something new every day. I openly want to thank Chris Webb as I never knew what Conoco stood for. somehow my guess of Coconut Oil Co didn’t seem right, but I do remember Conoco and National Benzole with equal fondness.