gritterman:
Not an old haulage as such request but can anyone help with photos, colour if possible of the Land-Rover Series 2 Tyne Tunnel rescue/■■■■■■ vehicles used in the 60s/70s.
I have been told these were grey with yellow panels,planning a future scale model as I can only remeber the yellow overall scheme.
Any help from the forum would be greatly appreciated.
Pm Toonheed. ( Colin Wilson) I’m not sure if he still works at the Tyne Tunnel, but he was a supervisor there for a long-time. Regards Kev.
tyneside:
Hi Paulycats
Possibly some of,the Albions mentioned had the 400 and the later ones the 401, too long ago to,remember now, and at the time I was probably too young to care.
The KM you mention was probably ECN 230E which was the first one we had. Harry Nichol had ECN 231E. They were amongst the first that A&G sold and we ended up with a mixture of tippers and flats all 4 wheelers.
Mention of L reg Leylands brings to mind the Leyland Bear we had, reg no VPT 993L which was a six wheel tipper with the 401 and a straight 6 box. It was involved in an accident when less than 6 months old and had to have a new cab fitted. Then of course we had the Reivers !!! What a disaster. We had 4 in total L & M reg. Leyland eventually produced a modification to the cooling system which involved fitting a bigger header tank but by then we had lost all faith in them and IIRC two got permanently repaired with the oxy acetylene spanner, two were sold to a dealer and we moved on to the Bison. Those 4 vehicles very nearly ruined what had been a decent working relationship with Cawthornes.
We also had a Super Comet reg no LUP 778J which was a LWB 4 wheeler and was on livestock permamently. It was a pigeon catcher.
In the later seventies we bought a couple of LAD Albions at Coopers which had come direct from the NCB, I think they were about K reg and we got them for time work on Gateshead Council. Not sure if they were 400 or 401 but they had rotary pumps and higher speed diffs and were real flyers.
Some of the drivers I remember from the mid sixties were Jackie Fletcher, Phil Harding, Jackie Newsteads, Bob Wheatley, Frank Wheatley ( uncle and nephew) Hughie Ilderton, Eddie Peacock ( no relation ) Jackie Richardson, Walter Gallon, Ronnie O’Neil and Ernie O’Neil, Eddie Herdman and Jackie Sanderson. There was also a couple of brothers and their cousin who all lived in the Chester le Street area but I cannot remember the family name.
Hope I have’nt bored you all Cheers Tyneside
Tyneside. Why on earth would you think your information is boring? People like myself participate on this forum in the hope we can stir a few memories by posting our experiences,knowledge,and get some feedback, whether first or second hand (as long as we can be honest in our recollections, we may get some things slightly wrong at times) Regarding your above post, that’s lot’s of technical information,names,history,that should be recorded somewhere. This is as good a place as anywhere, and saves a lot of ink,paper and cupboard space!! Keep it coming mate 
Hi Paulycats
Think I could be boring people because we stuck with and I can only write about the bread & butter stuff on the tippers and other local work.
By the way you mention Warden Law quarry a lot, can you remember the Copt Hill pub on the road down to Houghton opposite the Golfclub? My father in law was the landlord there for 16 years from 1960 to 1976. We also used to shift cattle for Brian Potts who had Warden Law Farm right next to the quarry.
tyneside:
Hi Paulycats
Think I could be boring people because we stuck with and I can only write about the bread & butter stuff on the tippers and other local work.
By the way you mention Warden Law quarry a lot, can you remember the Copt Hill pub on the road down to Houghton opposite the Golfclub? My father in law was the landlord there for 16 years from 1960 to 1976. We also used to shift cattle for Brian Potts who had Warden Law Farm right next to the quarry.
Boring NEVER, Your past involvement in the haulage industry , & knowledge is first class reading, Keep them coming, Regards Larry.
kevmac47:
Nothing boring about your posts Tyneside, Peacocks were a well known and respected presence on the roads in this area. Keep it coming. Several names on your post rang a bell with me, one in particular, Walter Gallon. I first met him in 1964 when I joined the TA, I was just 17 years old and that was the place to drive lorries before you were 21. We were all in awe of Walter, he was the only member of the Battery who was a qualified paratrooper, the wings on his sleeve proved that. I used to see him regularly for quite a few years, usually in a cafe !!he did like to gossip 
Thanks for bringing back that memory. Regards Kev
Walter Gallon came from the Felling / Pelaw area and yes he could tell a good story!!
Some more names I recall
Ken Parks from Bill Quay, mostly involved on livestock. I think he went to Bridon ( British Ropes )
Eddie Herdman from Whickham / Sunniside. He eventually started on his own and ran a couple of tippers along with his son ( Edwin ■■). They had a small yard at Swalwell below the Western Bypass embankment opposite the Metro Centre. Think you got in somewhere by Harry Block’s place.
Billy Errington from Chester le Street. Drove a six wheel flat usually on Spillers animal feeds. Two load a week ex Hull and deliver around the farms in the Durham area. Due to and accident when a youngster he only had a finger and thumb on one of his hands but his grip was like a vice. He also started on his own and ran a couple of flats on distance work and was based at the old Kimblesworth pit yard At Pity Me.
Billy Urwin from Springwell Village, always on livestock and very well known as Big Ginger around the marts and farms. His brother ( Freddy ) drove for Orrell & Brewster.
Hi tyneside, When I was at E.Robsons in the early 60’s, I worked with a fitter called Jimmy Hunter, who lived in Gateshead, and I believe had either come from Peacocks, or went to work there after Robson’s. Is his name familiar to you?
P.S Great reading on your postings! Eric.
forster:
Hi tyneside, When I was at E.Robsons in the early 60’s, I worked with a fitter called Jimmy Hunter, who lived in Gateshead, and I believe had either come from Peacocks, or went to work there after Robson’s. Is his name familiar to you?
P.S Great reading on your postings! Eric.
Jimmy Hunter was our foreman fitter from the mid seventies until we packed in in 1988. His son Jeff was doing his apprenticeship with us as well.
He lived at Wrekenton but then moved to Washington.
Before coming to us Jimmy had an industrial unit in Pelaw and had been working for himself doing commercial repairs.
IIRC he had also worked for Crows amongst others.
Sadly he died a few years ago.
Tyneside
tyneside:
forster:
Hi tyneside, When I was at E.Robsons in the early 60’s, I worked with a fitter called Jimmy Hunter, who lived in Gateshead, and I believe had either come from Peacocks, or went to work there after Robson’s. Is his name familiar to you?
P.S Great reading on your postings! Eric.
Jimmy Hunter was our foreman fitter from the mid seventies until we packed in in 1988. His son Jeff was doing his apprenticeship with us as well.
He lived at Wrekenton but then moved to Washington.
Before coming to us Jimmy had an industrial unit in Pelaw and had been working for himself doing commercial repairs.
IIRC he had also worked for Crows amongst others.
Sadly he died a few years ago.
Tyneside[/quote Jimmy Hunter, another great character. He could talk for England!!
Other names from E.Robsons from late 50s’ to mid 60’s were drivers Jimmy Searle (he went to Waughs, driving a four wheeler ERF) Billy Boyd, Billy Jukes, Stan Swaddle, Joe Cusack, Phil Proud and his son Harry, Bill Ritchie, Tony Monsiato, Fitter Ronnie Bright (He later went on his own doing repairs,then emigrated to Australia) All these lads lived in the Gateshead area. Drivers Billy Scott, from Hexham, Davy Jones, and Len Thompson from Stocksfield. and Dougie Holmes, from Medburn. Charlie Bisset,from Rye Hill, Finally, Fitter Alan Brown, from Ponteland. I’d be interested to hear if anyone out there remembers any of these. I’m sure Charlie Bisset’s name has been mentioned on the forum before. One tale regarding Charlie Bisset (maybe it was just a tale!) was that as he hauled a car engine to the upstairs of his house (or flat) on Rye Hill,and somehow the engine slipped and ended up going through the stairs! Cheers, Eric.
forster:
Other names from E.Robsons from late 50s’ to mid 60’s were drivers Jimmy Searle (he went to Waughs, driving a four wheeler ERF) Billy Boyd, Billy Jukes, Stan Swaddle, Joe Cusack, Phil Proud and his son Harry, Bill Ritchie, Tony Monsiato, Fitter Ronnie Bright (He later went on his own doing repairs,then emigrated to Australia) All these lads lived in the Gateshead area. Drivers Billy Scott, from Hexham, Davy Jones, and Len Thompson from Stocksfield. and Dougie Holmes, from Medburn. Charlie Bisset,from Rye Hill, Finally, Fitter Alan Brown, from Ponteland. I’d be interested to hear if anyone out there remembers any of these. I’m sure Charlie Bisset’s name has been mentioned on the forum before. One tale regarding Charlie Bisset (maybe it was just a tale!) was that as he hauled a car engine to the upstairs of his house (or flat) on Rye Hill,and somehow the engine slipped and ended up going through the stairs! Cheers, Eric.
Eric, I remember Jimmy Searle from Waughs, he was known to everyone as “the Black Prince” due to his aversion to water (unless it was brewed into beer) he drove a Ford Cargo for a long time. He left to go to work for a firm from Sunderland who printed and distributed bingo books. (Their name escapes me at the moment) He lived on the Leam Estate not far from the baths. Regards Kev.
forster:
Other names from E.Robsons from late 50s’ to mid 60’s were drivers Jimmy Searle (he went to Waughs, driving a four wheeler ERF) Billy Boyd, Billy Jukes, Stan Swaddle, Joe Cusack, Phil Proud and his son Harry, Bill Ritchie, Tony Monsiato, Fitter Ronnie Bright (He later went on his own doing repairs,then emigrated to Australia) All these lads lived in the Gateshead area. Drivers Billy Scott, from Hexham, Davy Jones, and Len Thompson from Stocksfield. and Dougie Holmes, from Medburn. Charlie Bisset,from Rye Hill, Finally, Fitter Alan Brown, from Ponteland. I’d be interested to hear if anyone out there remembers any of these. I’m sure Charlie Bisset’s name has been mentioned on the forum before. One tale regarding Charlie Bisset (maybe it was just a tale!) was that as he hauled a car engine to the upstairs of his house (or flat) on Rye Hill,and somehow the engine slipped and ended up going through the stairs! Cheers, Eric.
Hi “forster” Some of these names are a blast from the past, Billy Scott was a Smilers for a while he drove a crap ERF 8 wheeler PDW 124 it did 31 mph but he seemed quite happy with it Ronnie Bright was there at the same period, He had a Dodge artic ATY 725 B IIRC, Alan Brown was a pal of mine when we raced at Brough Park in 69/70s era Our team name was The Ponteland Rustlers, Sadly he passed away last year, Charlie Bisset, Now he was a real character , I used to be in London a lot when he was driving for Eagle Transport, Never a dull moment on Tower Hill when he was there, Happy long gone days when driving for a living was worth doing , Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
tyneside:
Hi Paulycats
Think I could be boring people because we stuck with and I can only write about the bread & butter stuff on the tippers and other local work.
By the way you mention Warden Law quarry a lot, can you remember the Copt Hill pub on the road down to Houghton opposite the Golfclub? My father in law was the landlord there for 16 years from 1960 to 1976. We also used to shift cattle for Brian Potts who had Warden Law Farm right next to the quarry.
Boring NEVER, Your past involvement in the haulage industry , & knowledge is first class reading, Keep them coming, Regards Larry.
Hi Tyneside, Yes i know the Copt Hill very well, frequented this watering hole many times over the years.It’s currently under change of management, they’re looking for a publican to run the bar. Fancy it? I’m sure lot’s of the lad’s on here(myself included of course) would support you financially (in bar taking’s) over a few weekend’s every year. Just think of how many “boring stories” you could tell to a captive audience! 
O.K. another boring tipper story 
So far, over the previous 25 yrs (ish), we have used, Commer’s,Bedford’s,Ford’s and Leyland’s. Reiver’s apart,we have had decent service from all of the aforementioned.So why we have yet another change is unsure(although it was’nt a million miles from the Leyland) Ron think’s Dad was in touch with (maybe?) a salesman who previously sold him one of the former wagon’s while working for another dealer? We just don’t know. However this wagon would turn out to be a beaut!!
PPT 17M…AEC 6 wheel Marshall, again painted in Tilcon(esque) colour’s of maroon and light blue. I’m sure you lad’s on here will refresh our memory of the dealer from which it was purchased? I remember going for spares to Lex Tillotson’s on the coast road from Newcastle (1975) but would this be the dealer we bought it from in 1973?(same garage site) Again Ron is’nt sure and i was away from home when we bought it, so i ai’nt got a clue!
She had the 505 engine and the 6 speed box. Ron drove her until she was “run in” and then handed her over to the “gearbox killer” 
Amazing fact about her were the BRAKES…TREMENDOUS (our lad say’s) the best brakes he’s ever had on a wagon and this would be backed up by the tester’s at the testing station. So impressive were result’s on the brake test that the lad called over ALL his associates to witness it! Even they were gobsmacked!! She would complete over 100,000 miles service with us(in 2 yrs) and Ron renewed the front brake linings only once and NEVER had to renew the rear linings. He swapped the shoe’s between the 2nd and 3rd axle to compensate for wear, but never renewed them!
Bad point’s were few. Spring hanger’s were a weak point. They were an alloy casting(very light for their big size) and cracked several times between the top fixing bolt’s,on both near and offside. I can recall travelling down to a scrap yard in West Yorkshire (Bradford area) to buy up several of these. Even trying to weld (with “expert” welder’s) could’nt stop the problem. The only other problem was apparent “overheating” and i replaced thermostat and fan trying to correct this. In the end it was proved to be driver inflicted by the “gearbox killer”.Treated his “wheeled ladies” badly unfortunately. 
The future of this wagon is linked with another, so i’ll write it later.
Tyneside. Did you have a “Norman” driving one of your KM’s? Ron seems to remember Norman?
Haulier’s we can remember leading out of Hawthorn quarry at some point.
Anderson’s (Westerhope)
Brown (Ronnie, owner driver Super Comet from Seaham)
Burn’s (Stan from South Hetton, Bedford’s/Volvo’s Blue and White livery may still be operating? Burn’s and Hewitt ?)
Burnett’s (Sunderland, Foden’s)
Carter (Malcolm, Bedford 6 wheeler from Hawthorn Village)
Clevestone Haulage (Hartlepool, 6 wheeler’s ?)
Cruddas and Connelly (or O’Connell? Esh or Esh Winning possibly brown in colour wagon’s?)
Hann and Newby
Jones (Roger,Shotton Leyland)
Lincoln’s (Lenny, Sunderland/Houghton, Bedford’s,Seddons)
Maw (A. from Hendon)
Maw (J&D from Sunderland Volvo’s and the dreaded Reiver’s)
Mullin (Frank, Jarrow KM and the Maggie Deutz 6 wheeler)
Salkeld’s (Consett?)
Stevenson (George from Hetton, Commer’s/Bedford)
Thomas (Seaham Albion’s,Leyland’s,Scammel’s)
Thompson (Brian, Easington Village, Reiver)
Vardy (George, Hetton)
Vardy (Reg. Yes THE Reg Vardy, before his car business took off. Had Leyland’s)
Watson’s ?
Yeoman’s.
Young’s (Consett)
Hunter’s (Tantobie)
This list is not exhaustive and may be added to in the future (when our memory work’s properly)
The prices of wagon’s in the 70’s.
Ron seem’s to think that we paid about £1600.00 for the Leyland Reiver (6 wheel tipper) from Cawthornes (1972) and maybe £1850.00 for the AEC Marshall,6 wheeler(1973) Would these figures be about right? Seem cheap to me, but then i was’nt paying for them
Hi Paulycats
They do seem cheap but could be correct as the price for the chassis cab without tipping gear, body etc. I know Cawthornes even used to put mud flaps on the invoice as extra. IIRC we paid £28000.00 in 1988 for the last Constructor 24.23 we bought.
Tyneside
Ps Did you see my earlier post about Warden Law and the Copt Hill pub.
Kev.