Thanks to CJA1, Ray Smyth, Buzzer, lurpak, Frankydobo and tyneside for the pics 
and all the craic
Oily
Helmsdale February 2018.
Bring it on 
Oily
Suedehead:
Thats a good pic “Suedehead”.
Heres one of there 8 legger’s.
tyneside:
Two high but could go three. Tyneside
Thanks to Spardo, Windrush, and Tyneside for their comments on the Gas Board lorries
carrying bags of coke. From memory, the coke sacks were about 4ft x 2ft, much larger
than coal bags. In the picture that I posted above, the signage on all of the vehicles
in the North Western Gas Board fleet was " GAS AND COKE SERVICE ", whereas by the
early 1960s, the signage was reduced to " GAS SERVICE ", because less coke was being
used, many householders were having modern gas fires or central heating installed.
Cheers, Ray.
Lawrence Dunbar:
0
I bet you defrosted after that before leaving Larry ,were you driving with your head out the side window like me ?
These were the two old buses that formed the cafe on Shap summit.
Oily here are images of the same vehicles on Helmsdale harbour wall taken in June 2017 when en route to Orkney plus the Renault timber wagon on the riverside opposite Rapsons garage,
Cheers, Leyland 600.
Leyland600:
These were the two old buses that formed the cafe on Shap summit.
Spot on IIRC It was called the Eagle or somthing like that, When the old buses went IIRC The new cafe was called the Selside which was a bit further up Sharp on the left, There was a phone box there too, It was a Green coloured building, The last time I went over Shap some 20 odd years ago The concrete base where The Selside Cafe stood was still there covered with algie,I have spent many cold nights while running from Manchester to Rutherglen in the 50s, Driving wagons with no heaters in, Like this 1955 Atki & Drag, But Im still here now in 80s Plus I enjoyed every minute of it, Regards Larry.
Leyland600:
Oily here are images of the same vehicles on Helmsdale harbour wall taken in June 2017 when en route to Orkney plus the Renault timber wagon on the riverside opposite Rapsons garage,
Cheers, Leyland 600.
Rapsons seem quite a big concern now , they have a mini bus service at Durness , a lot of school buses I believe .
Lawrence Dunbar:
0Leyland600:
These were the two old buses that formed the cafe on Shap summit.Spot on IIRC It was called the Eagle or somthing like that, When the old buses went IIRC The new cafe was called the Selside which was a bit further up Sharp on the left, There was a phone box there too, It was a Green coloured building, The last time I went over Shap some 20 odd years ago The concrete base where The Selside Cafe stood was still there covered with algie,I have spent many cold nights while running from Manchester to Rutherglen in the 50s, Driving wagons with no heaters in, Like this 1955 Atki & Drag, But Im still here now in 80s Plus I enjoyed every minute of it,
When did they disappear Lawrence, the buses and the Selside? Shap was a very rare route for me, all my Scotch runs from Nottingham took me to Scotch Corner and over Stainmore, but I do remember the Jungle at the bottom though.
And yes, I too loved every minute of it. 
When genuinely tramping I went just where I fancied, got my own loads, although the money came into it too though, for the loads I mean. Many clearing houses, especially the hauliers, did not like telling a mere driver what the rate was, but I insisted, or didn’t do it.
Lawrence Dunbar:
0
Hi Larry Was that photo taken when that site was still a quarry or landfill.■■? IIRC there were one or two accidents caused by trying to get through that tunnel with tipper body still up!! Tyneside
Hi Tyneside, It was the place where a driver hit the tunnel roof sadley, It was Joint Stocks at Bowburn, I used to take notifiable waste there to be buried, I had a fellow with me who used to photograph me load being dozed & covered up with lime, It was a good earner for me in those days one load a day & paid for a full days work, Regards Larry.
Hi Spardo, The buses went in the late 50s, The Selside Cafe went in the late 60s IIRC, Take care and stay safe, Regards Larry.
Hi Rigsby the Durness route is a different Rapson (George I believe) with buses based in Tain plus there was another Rapson firm based at Brora for many years and covering lots school services up to Thurso but they have now gone. last year when I was up there the Rapson haulage business appeared to have closed down after 55 plus years that I have been aware of the company and seen their wagons coming south through Carlisle back in the early 1960s. They are possibly all part of the original family but too complicated to fathom out. Oily may have more detailed information living in the nearby area.
Cheers, Leyland 600.
Lawrence Dunbar:
0
Hi again Larry. Just picked up on this photograph, one or James Straughans probably taken around the Wooler area. Did a course at Ashington college with ‘ young Jimmy’ around 1973 / 74. Tyneside
tyneside:
Lawrence Dunbar:
0Hi again Larry. Just picked up on this photograph, one or James Straughans probably taken around the Wooler area. Did a course at Ashington college with ‘ young Jimmy’ around 1973 / 74. Tyneside
Hi Tyneside, As far as I know they are running some artics on farm produce work, Take care & stay safe, Regards Larry.