oiltreader:
Thanks to MaggieD and Buzzer for the pics
Couple of months ago in Inverness, could hear this Scammell long time before it hove in sight and not long after returning with the Merc on tow. Technology silenced and relying on the 40 something year old no nonsense Scammell for recovery, no idea what engine was in the Crusader but boy it made a racket.
Oily
Probably a Detroit judging by the twin stacks, V6 or V8 two stroke, lovely noise
DEANB:
Army Crusaders.Click on pages twice.
Hi DEAN
I worked for the MOD as a RAF civvy MT driver based at RAF Marham Norfolk retired 2004. We drove mainly Seddon Atkinsons and Stratos DAF 85s and Scammell Grusaders King Low loaders also cranes, coaches, crash ambulance driver. The photo of me loading JCBs on a slider trailer. The back wheels boggy is released by locking pins and trailer rear end reduces to deck and add a small ramp to drive vehicles on and off. One problem was when loaded in wet or frozen weather the back wheels would skid and difficult to raise trailer bed and couple up. We found it better to load up in hangers or just load up on a concrete vehicle ramp. The crane on the RE low loader is a 20 ton Groves similar to the one in my photos.
Photo of Seddon Atki at Florennes Belgium and photo of me at Decimomannu Air Base at Poeto beach Sardinia. 6 am I used to run the ground crew from accommodation block to their work area hanger on the base in a coach then back to hanger crane driving. Lunch time Take afternoon shift to the line (hanger) and pick up the early shift and take them to the beach. Somebody had to do it!
Regards KEV
Froggy55:
0Who will tell more about what looks like a LHD bonneted Mammoth Major 6 with an unusual cab?
It is an AEC Majestic normal control export model which was based on the Mk.III and Mk.V Mammoth Major chassis, depending on its build date. The four wheeler version was the Mogul.
Edited to correct myself. It is in fact a normal control Mammoth Major 6 Mk.III, built between 1956 - 62. They had the 11.3 litre A221 engine rated at 150 to 165 bhp. The Mogul and Majestic ranges were based on the Mk.V.
Thanks! I now understand why I never saw any on the roads during my stay in London (1965-73).
Froggy55:
0Another one with this Scammell fitted with a very crude and basic cab; is it an ex-army truck? Or perhaps a home-made cab?
That brings back memories. Early 60’s I was working for (at the time) Charrington-Hargreaves…mainly black oil. We had a subbie running into the terminal every day with just such a motor (old Scammell and god knows where the tank was from) His name was Basil and he was a great guy, only one eye and an ear problem that affected his balance (he always appeared p*ssed) but, he been passed medically and that was good enough for us. One day Basil was loading under the gantry… 
BASIL, BASIL, STOP, it;s running straight out of the discharge valve. Basil just shouted at us to…ahem…‘GO AWAY’ (something like that) and he carried on. Well the oil WAS running straight through, poor old Basil soon realised that he’d left the valve open…and the foot valve at the rear of the tank. It took a long time to clear the mess up.
Old Basil and his Scammell…what a guy.
kevmorrow:
Hi DEAN
I worked for the MOD as a RAF civvy MT driver based at RAF Marham Norfolk retired 2004. We drove mainly Seddon Atkinsons and Stratos DAF 85s and Scammell Grusaders King Low loaders also cranes, coaches, crash ambulance driver. The photo of me loading JCBs on a slider trailer. The back wheels boggy is released by locking pins and trailer rear end reduces to deck and add a small ramp to drive vehicles on and off. One problem was when loaded in wet or frozen weather the back wheels would skid and difficult to raise trailer bed and couple up. We found it better to load up in hangers or just load up on a concrete vehicle ramp. The crane on the RE low loader is a 20 ton Groves similar to the one in my photos.
Photo of Seddon Atki at Florennes Belgium and photo of me at Decimomannu Air Base at Poeto beach Sardinia. 6 am I used to run the ground crew from accommodation block to their work area hanger on the base in a coach then back to hanger crane driving. Lunch time Take afternoon shift to the line (hanger) and pick up the early shift and take them to the beach. Somebody had to do it!
Regards KEV
Hello Kev, Good stuff and pics.
I have an article somewhere will pop it on here or my thread when i find it. 
Froggy55:
0Another one with this Scammell fitted with a very crude and basic cab; is it an ex-army truck? Or perhaps a home-made cab?
That’s the standard Scammell cab. it’s a 15MU model that would have been with Esso from new. I used to ride on them as a kid, my next-door neighbour was the fitter at the local Esso depot, used to bring them and other lorries home when he was on test or out on a breakdown, would call for me and take me with him. He was a bit of a character, used to play to the kids in the street. He’d put one of those in first gear on tickover, a bit of string tied to the front, put it over his shoulder, and pretend to trudge along towing it as it followed him down the street. Or set the mirror up, get on the floor and slowly come down the street “driverless”. Or put it in reverse, get out and stand behind directing it, " right hand down, left a bit , straighten up" etc. He used to scare me a bit when I was out with him, he had thick pebble glasses and went every where flat out, nose pressed to the screen and about 2 foot off the motor in front! Lovely bloke.
Bernard
MaggieD:
pv83:
MaggieD:
2Hi Oily,
These two photo’s that Patrick has put on are taken in Lymington High Street in Hampshire,a bit further south than where you are !!
Regards
RichardIt did changed a bit over the years I imagine? Wouldn’t have thought that someone recognised the place in question, cheers Richard
Patrick, here’s a recent shot of the High St. hasn’t changed much, when you come over I’ll take you there for a pint.
Regards
Richard0
I’m coming over right away mate, as I’m quite thirsty due to the weather you see…
Ta everyone for posting Scammell related photos, info and stories, keep up the good work!
grumpy old man:
Froggy55:
0Another one with this Scammell fitted with a very crude and basic cab; is it an ex-army truck? Or perhaps a home-made cab?That brings back memories. Early 60’s I was working for (at the time) Charrington-Hargreaves…mainly black oil. We had a subbie running into the terminal every day with just such a motor (old Scammell and god knows where the tank was from) His name was Basil and he was a great guy, only one eye and an ear problem that affected his balance (he always appeared p*ssed) but, he been passed medically and that was good enough for us. One day Basil was loading under the gantry…
Old Basil and his Scammell…what a guy.
One-eyed and half deaf? He wouldn’t be at the wheel of a truck today! Thanks for that nice memory.
Spardo:
0
Hi David,
Spotted a Curries unit and trailer on the southern outskirts of Coimbra last week,I hadnt realized they were still operating!
David
Buzzer:
Apparently the driver said he needed a lift off but never expected this, Buzzer.
Good advert for twist locks, eh!!!
Q; how far up did it go before the driver jumped out. Harvey
5thwheel:
Spardo:
0Hi David,
Spotted a Curries unit and trailer on the southern outskirts of Coimbra last week,I hadnt realized they were still operating!
David
Nor me David, haven’t seen one for years, was quite excited till I saw the reg on the tractor. 
How are you doing in all the fires round your way? After my thoughts earlier in the year it set me to thinking about our situation here, with forest close up on 2 sides. I told my wife that if there was a fire and the pompiers arrive, to make very sure to tell them about my large pond in the trees, many thousand litres in that to save them stringing hoses down the road looking for a hydrant. 
5thwheel:
Spardo:
Hi David,
Spotted a Curries unit and trailer on the southern outskirts of Coimbra last week,I hadnt realized they were still operating!
David
Still going, change of livery, Currie European to Currie Solutions.
Oily
Froggy55:
grumpy old man:
Froggy55:
0Another one with this Scammell fitted with a very crude and basic cab; is it an ex-army truck? Or perhaps a home-made cab?That brings back memories. Early 60’s I was working for (at the time) Charrington-Hargreaves…mainly black oil. We had a subbie running into the terminal every day with just such a motor (old Scammell and god knows where the tank was from) His name was Basil and he was a great guy, only one eye and an ear problem that affected his balance (he always appeared p*ssed) but, he been passed medically and that was good enough for us. One day Basil was loading under the gantry…
Old Basil and his Scammell…what a guy.One-eyed and half deaf? He wouldn’t be at the wheel of a truck today! Thanks for that nice memory.
Basil wasn’t deaf, it was an inner ear problem that affected his balance, he was OK when he was sitting, and he had an eye ‘cover’ that covered the empty eye socket, it had a painted eye ball on it. 
Another tanker driver when we were at Fred Chappells…old Edgar Bradshaw, Edgar only had one leg, (plus a wooden one) His regular motor was an 8 wheel Atky. with a 150 and a six speed DB, the wood left leg only ever used the clutch for moving off from a standing start, at all other times,…just 2 pedal control. Years ago (again at Brays, Islington)us young uns pinched his wood leg and hid it, he was hopping about like Long John Silver cursing us.
Another great guy, a tanker man all his life, sadly long gone.
