Some more A E Evans photos taken at Sheffield depot,POD Robinson has once again permitted me to post them.
Being one of only four artic drivers at the time I was very often taken off my MK3 8 legger and put onto an artic. We only had three early 1970,JWW 896D,a tilt cab Mandator ex LPG Morley and two MK5 Mammoth Minors that were converted from 8 leggers for 32 t gross running on 5 axles.The Mandator pulled a 6000 gallon s/s tank with what could only be described as a swan neck and axles right on back end to get the nearly impossible axle spread for 32t gross on four axles - Evans managed to do it. The MK5 3 axled units were coupled to 6000 gallon tanks and used almost exclusively on gas condensate from BP/Amoco at Easington,Spurn Head,E.Yorks to the NCB refinery at Wath on Dearne or odd times to Immingham Storage.
Good stuff Chris, and excellent captions. Presumably the âMammoth Minor Mk.Vâ tractor units had brakes on the second steering axle when they were eight wheelers? They would have actually have been a stronger lorry than the Ergo-cabbed Mammoth Minor, which had special light weight front axles. I think that it was John Wyattâs Fridge Freight that had a âMammoth Minor Mk.IIIâ.
This was the Fridged Freight MK3 tinfront Mammoth Minor Graham,FVF 500C,not my photo though.
I will ask an ex Evans fitter about the MK5 MMs that were converted to twin steer units.I know that second steer brakes had to be fitted but not sure what else had to be done apart from uprated tyres maybe.I seem to recall an engineer from AEC at Nottingham came to inspect them before they went to testing station.They were a treat to drive considering they were pulling an extra 8 tons,maybe they were re-engined with that 2AV690 that had the crankshaft dampers,or maybe even the AV691. Evans had stacks of engines and gearboxes at Sheffield and Barking,it would abe a formality for them to exchange an engine.
The Leyland Hippo tractor unit was ex RAF,they were used to pull Thor missile trailers and nitrogen trailers out of the RAF Thor bases in Yorkshire,Lincs,Northants,Leics,Norfolk and Suffolk.They also pulled warhead trailers under strict USAF supervision as they were in sole charge of the nuclear warheads at each site. The RAF were originally supplied with American bonneted tractor units - I was told they were Studebakers for a start but somebody put me right and now I canna remember what they were,Macks maybe?.Anyway hereâs a photo of one.They were extremely unpopular with RAF MT drivers and the Leylands came in 1959,a year later. One driver told me that on a run from RAF Feltwell near Thetford to BOC at Bilston for compressed nitrogen the Yankee would need refuelling 3 times on a return trip,the Hippo just once at RAF Cottesmore or Wittering ont way back.
Incidentally,the Yankee units all had RAF registrations,people were getting a bit sensitive about the Americans and their missiles over here,even though it was a joint venture.I was at RAF Feltwell 1960 - 63.
Those US vehicles towing the warhead trailers are more likely to be M35 based, these were built by Reo, the fluted bonnet and segmented wings being a feature, they covered various uses for the US military including Fire Trucks and tractors as well as GS and weapons carriers. Although these Fire Trucks were mainly built by Ward La France using the M35 chassis cab. La France did build vehicles for the US forces during the war typically the Wrecker but these had a different plainer style and curved wings. The company was mainly a Fire Truck builder and returned to this after the war. The M35 carried on the nickname of âDeuce and a halfâ that became popular with the wartime GMC 2 and half Ton six wheelers and the tag still carries on today. Below is another M35 Fire Truck and as you see probably from the same station as the truck in Oilyâs pic and a military M35 to compare. Franky.
Frankydobo:
Those US vehicles towing the warhead trailers are more likely to be M35 based, these were built by Reo, the fluted bonnet and segmented wings being a feature, they covered various uses for the US military including Fire Trucks and tractors as well as GS and weapons carriers. Although these Fire Trucks were mainly built by Ward La France using the M35 chassis cab. La France did build vehicles for the US forces during the war typically the Wrecker but these had a different plainer style and curved wings. The company was mainly a Fire Truck builder and returned to this after the war. The M35 carried on the nickname of âDeuce and a halfâ that became popular with the wartime GMC 2 and half Ton six wheelers and the tag still carries on today. Below is another M35 Fire Truck and as you see probably from the same station as the truck in Oilyâs pic and a military M35 to compare. Franky.
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Thanks Franky. I was told they had petrol engines,would that be right? I only remember seeing the Leylands at Feltwell although I remember seeing those USAF tractors at Mildenhall and Lakenheath.
Depending which model they were Chris the standard M35 could have a Reo or Continental Gasoline inline six and there were LD multi fuel option engines for the M35A2 and even later the A3 (90âs) could have a Caterpillar Diesel. Those in your pics were possibly Standard or A1 versions the M35 was first built in 1949 so your mention of a gasoline engine points to those. Typically with US military builds other makers also got in on the act and models were also built by Studebaker and AM General as well as Canadian makes for their use but all following the M35 look. Oily wasnât incorrect to say the Fire Truck was a Ward La France they would have got this tag due to the fire build easier to have a name than a bunch of numbers as we know with likes of Fodens, ERFâs etc. We even do it today with our modern Fire vehicles although they may be on a Volvo chassis we call them Brontoâs due to the Aerial Ladder being made and built by the US Bronto company, thereâs nothing simple in the truck world is there! Cheers Franky.
Frankydobo:
Depending which model they were Chris the standard M35 could have a Reo or Continental Gasoline inline six and there were LD multi fuel option engines for the M35A2 and even later the A3 (90âs) could have a Caterpillar Diesel. Those in your pics were possibly Standard or A1 versions the M35 was first built in 1949 so your mention of a gasoline engine points to those. Typically with US military builds other makers also got in on the act and models were also built by Studebaker and AM General as well as Canadian makes for their use but all following the M35 look. Oily wasnât incorrect to say the Fire Truck was a Ward La France they would have got this tag due to the fire build easier to have a name than a bunch of numbers as we know with likes of Fodens, ERFâs etc. We even do it today with our modern Fire vehicles although they may be on a Volvo chassis we call them Brontoâs due to the Aerial Ladder being made and built by the US Bronto company, thereâs nothing simple in the truck world is there! Cheers Franky.
Thanks once again Franky. You are spot on with the ânothing simple in the truck worldâ.
I was exhibiting at a vintage rally/truckshow near trowell services a few years ago and Askeys had a couple of vehicles on show there. On sunday morning there was a lot of commotion and one of theirs was on fire, the fridge in the cab had ignited and burned the cab out. Luckily there was a wrecker from Rotherham on show as well so he towed it back home! Livened up a rather dull show actually, Iâm not keen on seeing vehicles at a show that are modern enough for me to have driven them for a living.
windrush:
I was exhibiting at a vintage rally/truckshow near trowell services a few years ago and Askeys had a couple of vehicles on show there. On sunday morning there was a lot of commotion and one of theirs was on fire, the fridge in the cab had ignited and burned the cab out. Luckily there was a wrecker from Rotherham on show as well so he towed it back home! Livened up a rather dull show actually, Iâm not keen on seeing vehicles at a show that are modern enough for me to have driven them for a living.
windrush:
I was exhibiting at a vintage rally/truckshow near trowell services a few years ago and Askeys had a couple of vehicles on show there. On sunday morning there was a lot of commotion and one of theirs was on fire, the fridge in the cab had ignited and burned the cab out. Luckily there was a wrecker from Rotherham on show as well so he towed it back home! Livened up a rather dull show actually, Iâm not keen on seeing vehicles at a show that are modern enough for me to have driven them for a living.
Pete.
I was there Pete that weekend I won best restored lorry
The MK5 3 axled units were coupled to 6000 gallon tanks and used almost exclusively on gas condensate from BP/Amoco at Easington,Spurn Head,E.Yorks to the NCB refinery at Wath on Dearne or odd times to Immingham Storage.
