Heavy relief?

[ppppenguin]

This latest addition to the BECG website may amuse. I've known Alan Taylor for over 10 years and he has a great fund of stories.

https://becg.org.uk/2020/03/24/ex-bbc-ty...breakfast/

[roadster]

   
Thanks for posting this, Jeffrey.  I have a big interest in old commercial vehicles and do a lot of crane ops in my present work. I also enjoyed looking at the rest of the BECG site. I have a pre war van which I am eventually going to sign write and fit out in some period way. I have been unable to find anything out about its working history so one of the ideas is as a radio repair shop van with some pre war sets and accumulators inside.  I have attached a picture of it.

[ppppenguin]

That's an unusual looking van you've got. Would look great sign written.

For the "flying truck" Alan also said (not on the website) that he was waiting with his camera in case something went horribly wrong.

[Kalee20]

I have a pre war van which I am eventually going to sign write and fit out in some period way. I have been unable to find anything out about its working history so one of the ideas is as a radio repair shop van with some pre war sets and accumulators inside.  I have attached a picture of it.

Ooh, that's lovely! James mechanics? I have seen a similar Raleigh van.

Yes, a few shelves, radio parts, a couple of radios. Shame it'd be rather dark in there, and not big enough for a radiogram!

[Refugee]

That's an unusual looking van you've got. Would look great sign written.

For the "flying truck" Alan also said (not on the website) that he was waiting with his camera in case something went horribly wrong.

How about a flying loco then?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLfh_hPVnUg

[roadster]

It is a James Handyvan from 1936. It has a 1100cc aircooled v twin engine 3 forward speeds plus reverse gearbox, hand and electric start. Other than electrics and carb I believe that everything was of James own design/manufacture. Last year I did the London to Brighton with it. During my sea going days we carried a fair number of second hand lorries and busses from Liverpool (Birkenhead) to the Far East as deck cargo on general cargo ships, these were lifted on/off using the ship's heavy lift derricks. I don't remember ever carrying a railway loco but well remember Mammoth, the 200t floating steam crane, working around Liverpool docks.That was the crane which would have loaded us had we carried a loco.
Rod

[ppppenguin]

In the early 1960s when H&S wasn't such a worry (and I was about 7) I was taken aboard a cargo ship at Tilbury in a bus that was being craned on as deck cargo. I departed via the gangplank as usual. I don't remember if the crane was in the dockyard or on the ship.

The occasion was a close friend of the family coming back from East Germany where he'd spent a few years teaching advanced English at Leipzig university. He almost caused a diplomatic incident by marrying one of his students and bringing her back to the UK. I haven't been in touch with him recently but he was alive and well last year: https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/17805819...ome-staff/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0luD3_dzOqc