The Trucks of the Trans Pennine Run: A Photographic History E-Book

Roy Dodsworth

• Herausgeber: Old Pond Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Seitenzahl: 79

Beschreibung

Every year on the first Sunday in August, hundreds gather to see one of the greatest displays of historic commercial vehicles. First organised in 1969, the Trans Pennine Run attracts an annual entry of around 200 vehicles coming from all over the UK.The event starts at Birch Services on the M62 at Manchester at about 7.30 in the morning and runs for 64 miles via Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford, taking in some of the finest Yorkshire scenery along the way. From 11.30 the vehicles start arriving at the famous Harrogate Stray where they are then displayed to the public.Avid photographer, Roy Dodsworth has been following the event since the late 1990s and has a collection of over 3000 images taken there. This book collects together 262 of Roy's favourite truck photos, including a bit of history about each of the vehicles - many of which have been restored to their original livery. The Trucks of the Trans Pennine Run is a must-have for any driver who has ever participated in the run. Current and former truckers and anyone else with an interest in transport history will all enjoy being reminded of these beautiful old vehicles.

Leseprobe

THE TRUCKS OF THETRANS PENNINE RUN

A Photographic History

THE TRUCKS OF THETRANS PENNINE RUN

A Photographic History

Roy Dodsworth

Contents

Preface

Programmes and plaques

Trucks

Preface

In 1968 the first Trans Pennine Run took place, and as always the date was fixed for the first Sunday in August.

It was organised by three enthusiasts who were members of the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club, North Midlands (now Society – HCVS Yorkshire region).

The club organises the annual London to Brighton Run for commercial vehicles, and it was thought that a run should be organised north of Watford Gap.

The organisers – two lived in Lancashire, one in Yorkshire – decided to create an event that would link both sides of the Pennines and, as a bonus, travel through the beautiful scenery of the Pennines.

A start at Manchester and a finish in Harrogate was decided and the mammoth task of putting everything in place was commenced.

Following negotiations with Manchester City FC, permission was granted for the use of its car park at Maine Road, while at Harrogate the council enthusiastically agreed to allow the use of their car park adjacent to the Royal Hall/Exhibition Centre as the finishing point.

It was felt that a refreshment stop was needed somewhere along the 64-mile route, and the world-famous Harry Ramsden’s fish and chip restaurant at Guiseley kindly agreed to the use of their car park for this purpose. This has now changed hands, and all entrants stop as and when necessary.

In the late 1990s I used to sit there, eating fish and chips, and watch all the entrants pass by. I would then go to The Stray at Harrogate and take photographs, amassing a collection of over 3000.

The success of the first run ensured that it has been repeated every year since. The main change at the Harrogate end is that the finishing point has moved to The Stray, although on occasion, due to weather, the location has moved to the grounds of a local college.

The start has been moved several times, including to Salford University (1971), Belle Vue Manchester (1972 to 1978), GMT buses Hyde Road garage (1978 to 1988), ADT auction centre (1989 and 1990), Astley Green Colliery Museum (1991 to 1999), Popular Truck Stop at Lymm (2000 and 2001) and then Birch Motorway Services M62 from 2002 to present.

The finish was held at Royal Hall Car Park and Exhibition Centre Harrogate from 1969 to 1972. In 1973 it was at The Stray, Knaresborough Road, Harrogate, moving to its current position in 1974.

The run organisation starts a few weeks after the last event ended. A small committee exists, and the events are well attended by entrants and spectators. Every year each entrant receives a souvenir of that year’s event: sadly due to expense, plaques are no longer given, but a vehicle display notice, showing entry number, is issued for attaching to each vehicle. Prizes are given for winners in various categories. The once renowned colour programmes have given way to a less costly black and white run guide.

Entry to the run has attracted additional features, and two of the most appreciated include the recovery service provided by Highway Recovery for any vehicle in distress. Their vehicle travels the route after the last entrant has left Birch Services. Thankfully most runs are trouble free.

The other feature is the two packed lunches each entrant gets at lunchtime at Harrogate. These have kindly been prepared and distributed by Huntapac Produce. The owners, the Hunter family, also enter a number of vehicles from their classic truck collection.

This event can only continue thanks to a dedicated team of enthusiasts who work hard all year to ensure a smooth-running event, the enthusiasts who enter their vehicles, and the spectators who attend.

I hope you enjoy this book. It has been difficult selecting photographs of the vehicles that appear, although I think there is a good selection of trucks in the categories entered. Although the event is open to all types of vehicle, this book concentrates on trucks only.

ROY DODSWORTH

A map of the route.

A selection of programmes from the event. Initially extremely well prepared and colourful, becoming collector’s items. Due to cost the programme now is reduced in size and in black and white; however, it still provides full information on vehicles present. Photograph courtesy of Peter Seaword.

A selection of plaques issued in recent years. These were given to vehicle owners on arrival at the finish at Harrogate. It is not unusual to see vehicles displayed with a board containing numerous plaques collected over the years. Photograph courtesy of Peter Seaword.

The start of the book and the start of the run at Birch Services M62. This picture was taken at 0630 in 2010. I start taking photographs as vehicles arrive, assisting with marshalling as necessary. On arrival, drivers check in, get any route changes, and a windscreen banner giving entry details. Set-off time is 0800. I then drive to the finish at The Stray, Harrogate, taking further pictures as vehicles arrive. The taxi seen leaving is a 1935 Austin 12/4 taxicab. The route starts in Greater Manchester and passes through West Yorkshire, ending in North Yorkshire.

A 1960 Thornycroft Trident delivery van, fitted with a CR6/1 engine. Fleet number 56 and used by Timothy White & Taylors, a once famous high street retailer. It entered a number of Trans Pennine rallies in the early years of the millennium but was not seen again for some time. Some two weeks after writing this caption I saw an advert in a truck magazine with the following information: ‘For sale £18,500 ono. £1000s spent on a long restoration 20 years ago. Laid up for last ten years but started regularly. Some history. Original maintenance manual.’ So with luck we may see it on a rally some time?

This is a 1946 Citroen U23 type R. It has a two-litre OHV engine and a four-speed crash gearbox. Bought off French eBay in 2007, it had not run since 1966 and had only 64,000 kilometres on the clock. It was previously owned by L. & H. Taffit et Fils of Charente, the Cognac region. The restoration took 18 months and it was first shown at the NEC Classic car show in 2008. I have not seen it since.

Here is a 1962 Rowe Hillmaster, one of a limited quantity built by a bus operator in Cornwall. This is in the livery of Colin Pitt, a commercial vehicle restorer from Otley. It was repainted in his name with a green livery, and was later sold to a buyer in Northern Ireland. A small number of trucks were made, together with a bus chassis.

Another Rowe Hillmaster, built in 1957 as a box van for the Bank of England print works in Essex. Banknote paper is obviously a valuable commodity and in view of this the vehicle was fitted with toughened glass, security locks and a reinforced cab to protect the three-man crew. When disposed of, the body, heavily reinforced, was retained by the bank. Now fitted out as a chassis and cab.

A 1937 Albion truck, bought new by E. Sibley, a coal merchant from Southampton. It has entered the Trans Pennine on a number of occasions, whilst still a working lorry. Seen here in 1997 loaded with Monday’s delivery. Loaded up on Saturday, enter rally Sunday, and then deliver Monday. Whereabouts not now known.

A 1913 Thornycroft ST model, 30 cwt light truck, new to Hull Corporation and sold in 1920 to Drypool Engineering. Is the oldest-known, still-running Thornycroft with a petrol engine. This vehicle was the first one made and is one of a range of worm-drive types replacing the earlier range of chain-drive vehicles. When new it was fitted with an engine of 3.47 litres, and four cylinders; however, when found, the engine and gearbox were missing. Finding an engine and gearbox of the original type proved impossible. Luckily a four-litre unit and gearbox of 1930s vintage was found in a field in County Durham. This was refurbished and is now fitted. Originally it was fitted with a water tank and was used to spray water to lay the dust on the city’s streets. Special permission was given by Hull City Council to use the corporate livery on restoration. Seen on a number of rallies annually and owned by Les Wilson of Harrogate.

A Ford D series two-axle flat truck, new to ICI Teesside in 1972 as a decontamination unit. Disposed of, and first registered in 1980. Now in the livery of Vaux Brewery, formerly of Sunderland and since closed down.

A 1973 AEC Mammoth Major eight-wheeled milk tanker, in the livery of Longley Farm, and owned by J. & E. Dickinson of Holmfirth. Restored by John Murphy from Huddersfield. AEC were part of Leyland Motors and this type of vehicle can be seen badged as a Leyland Octopus, fitted with an ERGO cab.

A 1927 Albion flatbed truck in the livery of Lyons’ Cocoa (headboard) and Lyons’ Tea on doors. Seen once at Harrogate and a couple of sightings on the London to Brighton truck run. Thought to have been restored by Andy Gibb, who has worked his wonders on other Albion vehicles.

Albion 355 flat truck seen climbing up Hollins Hill leading to a refreshment stop at Harry Ramsden’s fish and chip shop at Guiseley. Seen in Livery of F. Richardson, Cabinetmakers, as ‘Old Fred’. Also seen prior in the livery of J. Arnold & Sons of Eccleshall, Staffs. The insignia on the radiator translates as ‘Sure as the sunrise’ – a slogan emphasising reliability.