my ole dad drove for Spurlings around 1960 ish, could even have driven one of these ole girls, lovely thanks Bubbs
My dad also drove for Spurlings in the 60s, from the Ford Tractor plant to Harwich. He had the misfortune to drive one of these Thames Trader artics occasionally and they really werent up to the job. Aproaching Harwich one night the gearbox in the Trader he was driving just disapeared and parted company with the rest of the wagon.
Thanks very much for the photo though, could even be my dear old dad there.
I only have a small picture from an article in the Derby Telegraph on Wednesday
"WHEN I was 17, I worked as a driver’s mate with Alec Binfield at International Combustion Ltd.
I spent two years as his mate and we did thousands of miles together. We had to stay overnight many times as some journeys could take up to five days. Many were with wide loads which had to have a police ■■■■■■."
Although I was only a teenager, Alec and I got on very well. He was a great man to be with, a true friend and like a second father to me.
I am enclosing a photograph, left, of myself which was taken by Alec in Porthmadog, North Wales. We were going to Trawsfynydd Power Station. The load was so heavy that we had to have a push up steep hills.
I also took the picture, (not shown) which appeared with your recent piece on Alec. It showed, from left, Alec, Joe O’Donell and George Daws.
It was taken in a lay-by between Corwen and Bala, North Wales. George’s lorry had broken down.
Stanfield:
You wouldn’t believe it was 43 yrs ago when this was taken.M62 under construction @ Milnrow nr Rochdale in 1968.
Unrecogniseable John, but reminds me that my first ‘long distance’ job was to New Mills in 1970 carrying plastics on a non-hgv threepenny bit BMC, I can still smell the brakes as I charged headlong down Stanedge!!! Regards, Mizzo.
Mark R:
Does anyone know anything about this firm from Dagenham?.
I worked for Neales in about 1969/1970. I worked out from the Basildon Tractor Plant but the main depo was Rainham Road South, Dagenham and there was also a Barking depot. Only went there for repairs and diesel etc. I shunted artics and delivered tractors and spares, mainly in a flatbed D1000. They were all Ford D Series wagons at that time.
Best company I ever worked for, ahh they were the days.
Cheers
phil
Stanfield:
You wouldn’t believe it was 43 yrs ago when this was taken.M62 under construction @ Milnrow nr Rochdale in 1968.
Great pic John ive trawled the net for pictures of the M62 in the 70s when the heavy snow came and the first “all weather motorway” closed .My dad was stuck by the farm house near the reservoir in an old 4 wheeler Albion for about 8 hours.It was on the 6 o`clock local itv and bbc news but i cant find any pictures
Stanfield:
You wouldn’t believe it was 43 yrs ago when this was taken.M62 under construction @ Milnrow nr Rochdale in 1968.
Hiya…Thanks alot you really made my day…it was a nice run through greenfield and stop off at the motormans for a cuppa… and yes i did some kerb stones to the M62 around that novotel slip at Worsley…i remember the huge graders coming down from the M61 split no cabs the drivers had a scarf round their mouth(keeping dust off )and going at what seemed like
50 mph one after another… filling in the run up to Barton bridge…, you still wrecked my day.John…WHY …i only feel 35.
John
see you at Astel.
i did a lot of hot mix to the m62 from worsley all the way up to the top of windy hill . we sat at the top of windy hill all day in a torrential downpour , signed us up at 4 pm , dumped the lot down the embankment and went home , and that happened a few times . we had brand new ergo cabbed aec units with dump trailers , one driver pulled up on the access ramp at worsley pulled the dead man on and stopped the engine while he went to the site office , when he came out the lorry had run back and rolled off the side of the ramp , it only had 200 miles on the clock , happy days , dave
Mark R:
Does anyone know anything about this firm from Dagenham?.
I remember seeing this firm a lot when i was a wee lad, Always was a smart looking fleet. I was told that they did a lot of work for Ford Motor Co, as Ford only had light motors ( D series) all the heavy stuff was subbed out to Neales, then when the Transcon was launched, Ford did the work themselves and Neales lost the contract, or at least, a lot of work.
Hello,I went off to Holland for a few days last week…doing the “anorak” thing,I know foreign lorries dont do much for many of you but have a look a these.ELV’s are quite common with approx 700 on the road…I wonder if this country will ever let them be used over here.
Peemans FH taking a break at the cafe on the industrial estate near Kramer terminal,Rotterdam.
Verkeleys run 4 ELV’s,this one had a problem with an air valve on the trailer,the driver is the other side trying to fix it.
Another Verkeleys,the driver lending a hand to his mate.
Real nice Scania again at the cafe,note the wheel trims all round…60 tons is the weight limit for these
This is a clever one,when the rear trailer is dropped the bogie slides back under the front one so it can be tipped
Flowers are a big thing in Holland,heres a big motor to deliver them.
Hiya bubbs if you was in Holland for only 4 days its a wounder you got time to take photo’s
ater sending all of us on TN a post card…fine photo’s you’ve take there…love the wheel trims!!!
as you know Stan Robinson has tried to use that log rig between IICR exeter/Stafford/ glasgow
useing only motorways but the ministry of transport dont seem to want it in the UK.
John
Hi again,had to pop out before I put all the ELV’s on,John…you’re dead right about Robinsons campaining for longer trucks ,also Denbys have had a go too,but they were too ambitious wanting 2 x 40 footers,this was being a bit greedy,the Dutch way got accepted and its surprising where the drivers can get them into.I believe the drivers have to have 5 years class 1 experience before they can drive one…Bert Wolters will correct me if I’m wrong.
Heres a few more.
This was an owner driver,he told us that reversing took a bit of getting used to but not far from like reversing a drag on an A frame,he said he does it without thinking now and gets in a pickle when he’s got just 1 trailer on.
I like this spot for taking pics,everyone gives it plenty as they leave the container terminal,loads have straight through exhausts
Had a change of position cos all the good 'uns seemed to be heading inbound.
Another ELV,even the trailer wheels are clean.
This junction must be the busiest in all of Holland,great for nutters like me but the fumes dont half get down your throat
Popped into Henk Vlots on saturday,he was off to Rotterdam in the afternoon with this and his 22 year old daughter was taking an FH artic as well.
bubbleman:
Hi again,had to pop out before I put all the ELV’s on,John…you’re dead right about Robinsons campaining for longer trucks ,also Denbys have had a go too,but they were too ambitious wanting 2 x 40 footers,this was being a bit greedy,the Dutch way got accepted and its surprising where the drivers can get them into.I believe the drivers have to have 5 years class 1 experience before they can drive one…Bert Wolters will correct me if I’m wrong.
Heres a few more.
This was an owner driver,he told us that reversing took a bit of getting used to but not far from like reversing a drag on an A frame,he said he does it without thinking now and gets in a pickle when he’s got just 1 trailer on.
I like this spot for taking pics,everyone gives it plenty as they leave the container terminal,loads have straight through exhausts
Had a change of position cos all the good 'uns seemed to be heading inbound.
Another ELV,even the trailer wheels are clean.
This junction must be the busiest in all of Holland,great for nutters like me but the fumes dont half get down your throat
Popped into Henk Vlots on saturday,he was off to Rotterdam in the afternoon with this and his 22 year old daughter was taking an FH artic as well.
Good afternoon sir
You may have seen my article on the walls meat company and i was just wondering if you have or know of any photos of the walls fleet. Alan.
