Wilson Wednesday

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Wednesday again all ready and this is a late entry I know. First up is Workshop manager the one and only Bob Cross. I say workshop manager but there isn’t a lot Bob doesn’t get involved in and that also includes days out on the road still moving the big stuff about. Bob always carries a broom with him that can usually be found inside his person, but today he’s put the broom down for a few hours while he delivered this 4.25m wide, 4.80m high 29 ton reeler to Felixstowe. Boys load. SW02 HCW is a 150 tonner 8×4 Scania that these days is a spare. With a number of 8×4’s on the road it pays to keep a reliable V8 in the yard for as and when it’s required.

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Next we have show favourite Mick Farrow heading for Liverpool with his big 250,000kg GVW Scania loaded with a reach stacker weighing in at approx 125,000kg GVW. A big old load, I’m sure it got a bit snug at some point today.

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Doris DAF was today in Germany loading crane parts for the UK with driver Slim. This pair are Wilson Wednesday regulars, the big DAF is a regular on runs backwards and forwards to the continent.

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2nd DAF on the fleet is the delightful Daisy, this week back at work with regular good looking driver Geoffrey Tarbun. From what I can work out Geoff could be adopting a one week on one week off rota but I could be wrong! Anyway here she is resting (again) on her way to the ferry from the Netherlands back to the UK with an agricultural machine for this years harvests.

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Last one this week is European Charger that has charged up to Nuneaton today to tip an easy load of drums. A nice little load for driver Geordie.

Mystery MAN

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Spotted today at Chievely Services on the M4 by @StevieBloke on Twitter. Being the driver of an MAN TGL for vehicle transporters Bestlog and also knowing I’m just a bit of a TGL fan Mr Bloke thought it’d be a good idea to share his find. Great idea! What do we know about this specialist little motor? It’s an LX cabbed TGL, not sure if it’s a sleeper or a crew cab. The chassis has stainless steel lockers mounted down the sides. The body looks to be a pretty tall sliding canvas body with drop sides. Between the body and the cab are a pair of stabiliser legs for a small Hiab crane and too finish it off it was towing a tri axle flat trailer. It must be used for installations of some sort but I’ve no idea what. Over to you lot, who knows who’s it is or what it gets up too?? Leave a comment or send me an email; ben@truckblog.co.uk

If you see some thing a bit different or something you don’t know about then send me an email and we can all play truck detectives.

Take Away Delivery MAN

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I’ve been after this one for a while now and today my good old pal Howard was tipping at the same place as this little MAN wagon and drag. Many moons ago I tried to get reloads from Middlewich Food Trays but I was told that I needed a trailer to make it worth while. Anyway that was another reload out the window but I always kept an eye out for the little wagon and drags as they went about their business delivery the core of the UK’s take away industry all over the UK.

These days Middlewich Food Trays are still operating mini drawbar outfits as their loads of polystyrene cube out way before they reach their maximum payload. This LX cabbed TGL is an 8.220, it is also the newest on the fleet. The extra power comes in handy when pulling the drag trailers, by name they can be a real drag. The body on the truck is also mounted 18 inches further back than normal to help try and stabilise the outfit when towing the trailer. The only thing they should also have specced is a sun visor, it just looks wrong, well in my opinion anyway. Still a good looking little thing so if you see any more Middlewich trucks then please send me a photo. You can email me; ben@truckblog.co.uk or you can post it on the TB Facebook page or you can even Tweet it; @truckbloguk I’ll happily start a spotting thread for this little fleet. Thanks to Howard and also Shaun who sent a photo of a rear view of a MFT truck a few months back.

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Wilson Wednesday – it’s a big’un!!

This could be the biggest HC Wilson Wednesday yet. I don’t know how but it’s a double figure turn out this week, even drivers who I was beginning to think didn’t have phones have sent their entries in.

First up is N7HCW, European Charger. Sent in by driver Steve “Geordie” Pattison, loaded with a cable drum from Germany to Ireland.

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Next, an old favourite of mine, Garreth Rowlands and V8HCW, European Diplomat. Loaded with cable drums from the UK back to the Continent, photo taken at the Goch boarder between NL and D.

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X300HCW and driver Jon Pryke deliver another load of JCB’s to Harwich. It’s no easy job fitting all 3 on that trailer, trust me.

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A firm spotters favourite, WIL2217 and driver Matt Lamb with a historical load this week. A 1914 London bus delivered at 2am this morning to Londons Transport Museam.

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N50HCW loaded with a 4.2m wide cable drum heading for Felixstowe. Photo taken by Sully, Wilsons escort driver, the truck is driven by Graham Daniel.

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Next is a new entry from driver Viv Nixey with R50HCW. Loaded in Birmingham and delivering today in Germany. Pull up a sand bag…..

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Another new entry is driver John “Tea Bag” Franks. A quiet Yorkshireman who does more work than most without any fuss or even anyone realising how much he’s done! The JCB and combine friendly Scania, W100HCW and it’s A frame trailer look so simple to drive when being reversed by John “no shunts” Franks. A great truck and a great driver. The first truck I’d seen with a Sky box fitted. Another load of JCBs for Harwich.

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Next is driver Richie Burnett and X400HCW loaded in the UK and tipping today at Luxembourg Airport.

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You’ll recognise Doris DAF and driver Slim. Having delivered their load of steel that you might have seen in the photos on the blog this week, they reloaded today from NL back to the north of England with a 21m long and 3m wide crane frame.

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Next on the list is European Earl the perfect description for the driver of SW51HCW, Terry Alderton. Loaded back from Germany to the UK with a perfectly trailer fitting excavator.

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Richard Arnold is the driver of R80HCW, the first R620 Scania that joined the Wilson fleet a few years ago. Seen here today loading a liquid storage vessel in Germany for the UK. The tank is 4.2m wide and 12m long, that’s 12m long in the well of the low loader. No problem for the quiet professional that is Arnie.

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Also loading with Arnie in Germany is Mike Tasker and his beautiful black R560 Scania. Not just another 6×2 tag axle. Tasker had specced this truck to every last detail, to make sure the truck lasts the next 10 years or more. Tasker shipped out to Europe on Monday with a Sugarbeet Harvester.

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Next are 2 big loads from the north of England to the South. Photo taken by the female part of husband and wife team Dave and Sue Ramm in N5HCW. Followed up by John Stocks and the Europe flattening WIL2580. Both loads are 4.2m wide.

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The last 2 entries are honouree Wednesday entries. First is part time office dweller James Cartwright, out in GW51HCW yesterday doing a couple of local jobs around Norfolk and Suffolk. Always good to see the office staff keeping their hands in.

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The final entry is of Daisy DAF last week before driver Geoff Tarbun had another holiday this week. Geoff says he can afford to take so much holiday as it gives the other drivers time to catch up with the amount of work he does with Daisy. Photoed here with a lifeboat loaded in Norfolk and delivered out to Amsterdam, NL.

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There you go, a record 15 entries for this weeks #wilsonwednesday, that’s more than half the fleet! All trucks out and about working hard in a good mix of UK and European work. Always a good selection of interesting loads to be seen from HC Wilsons drivers. On a side note GW, the drivers photos are getting better. John Pryke now gets the whole truck in his photos, next he just has to get the whole load in and he’ll be an accomplished photographer! Thanks to all the drivers, let’s see what happens next week.

Wilson Wednesday is Here Again

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First up is Doris DAF and driver Slim, loaded in Ridderkirk, NL and heading for Loughborough, GB. I must say a tidy bit of sheeting drive

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This picture perfect load is on European Charger, a Scania R560 driven by Geordie. Loaded in Damme, D and on his way to York, GB to make his delivery. I don’t think you can get a better suited, better looking load if you tried.

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The 2nd DAF on the HC Wilson fleet is Daisy and her chauffeur Geoff. Loaded with a couple of Telehandlers on UK work from Cannock to Shefford.

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This big beast is European Coloussus driven by Mick “Fumpa” Farrow he of TV fame, he does snug. In this case it is not so snug but still a big ol’ excavator from Cannock to Ipswich for a boom conversion.

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Last but by no means least the youngest driver on Wilsons fleet, Matt Lamb and his delightful R620 Scania. Loaded here with an 18m load of piping equipment loaded in Wellingborough, GB and heading for Zoetermeer, NL. How well she looks on a sunny day in Northamptonshire.

SCOOP!! ‘ello John, Got a new motor?!

John M Phillips _ Mercedes Actros 2563!!!!

We all know the name of John M Phillips. Most of us remember the 2 stunning yellow Scania 143 custom trucks he ran through the 1990’s, 1 of which is being restored in Ireland back to its former Centurion glory, read about it HERE. How can we forget the Royal Centurion, really I don’t think we can. If you have forgotten or have no idea what I’m talking about, please click HERE. In recent years the trucks have been a little more subtle, until now. Well it’s still very subtle but once again its a really unique, head-turning, belter!! Spotted today by top North Walian truck spotter Shaun Broadbent. John Phillips was in to load at Shauns place in Holywell, North Wales today and I’m so pleased Shaun managed to get a quick photo. Hopefully next time he will be able to get a few more. John’s latest truck is a 6×2 Mercedes Benz Actros Gigaspace 2563. Yes that’s right folks a 2563!! A monster and must be one of the first if not the first 2563 standard tractor in the UK. Mr Broadbent managed to get the following spec detail which talking to Mr Phillips;

“630BHP 6×2 midlift. It went into the paint shop to have the door handles colour coded. John ended up having bespoke side-skirts made to Mercedes pattern as they’re only available off the shelf for a 4×2. A chassis infill panel was fitted. All painted in blue and white to match the cab. Then the whole cab was lacquered to enhance the paint finish. A slim-line illuminated headboard is fitted along with Kelsa bars and spotlights. Full leather seats with the Mercedes tristar embossed in the headrests. A full set of Alcoa alloy wheels with super singles on the front. Michelin tyres all around. Pulling 44ton most days on steel haulage for the same company  (Armstrong Steels now ASD OCS – TB) that he has pulled for for the past 20 plus years, the truck is returning over 9mpg with a 28t payload. – Fill your boots!”

Hopefully this won’t be the last time this gorgeous German beast is featured on the blog. Thanks to Shaun for the Scoop and thanks to John for creating another stunning truck.

Wilson Wednesday

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It’s been a while since I did a Wilson Wednesday which is probably why I didn’t get much response from the drivers from the finest international abnormal load specialist in the UK. This is a small window into the wonderful world of Wilsons.

Above we have arguably Wilsons best looking driver, Geoff Tarbun. Loaded with a storage tank from Germany to Herefordshire. The delightful DAF “Daisy” (WIL2219) is the identical twin to “Doris” (WIL2218) they are the only 2 ladies on the HCW fleet.

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This is N8 HCW or European Spirit. Driven by Nick Garlick on a bit of UK work. A pair of picture perfect CAT excavators from Southampton to Leeds. N8 is one of a pair of new Scania Streamline R480 low height 6×2 tractors.
Below is a Wilson classic that really does need a good polish, that said N200HCW is still going strong and is in regular use on all duties local and international. This photo sent by James Cartwright parked next to N50HCW. Just a little shunt of JCB’s from Wilsons base in Elmswell, Suffolk down to Harwich, Essex.

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Finally we have driver Matt Lamb and European Dream (WIL2217). A pair or Army tanks on exercise loaded in the UK and delivered to Mailly Le Camp, France. Matts R620 Scania certainly looks the part with the 4 axle Broshuis trailer and load.
Hopefully Wilson Wednesday will become a little more regular again, thanks to those who contributed.

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Rigbys Easter Surprise

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Owner driver Tim Rigby from Somerset was a well know truck on the road a couple of years ago and will soon be again judging by his latest good looking wagon. This Scania R620 6×2 twin wheel tag came originally from Finland but is now at a well loved home in the heart of Cider country. To keep the tradition running the truck came back to the UK via VSB Groep in Holland for a few small touches, then it was a long and tedious 6 month wait for VOSA and the DVLA to get the trucks documentation in order.

This first trip in a couple of years for Mr Rigby should be good one as he has a full load of machinery up-to to Sweden, back to the trucks native home land! I’m not sure which way he is shipping but I think this V8 will be become a popular one with all the spotters and photographers down in Dover, so keep your eyes peeled.

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Spot The…..

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Whys this Dutch DAF a little different from the rest?? It looks fairly normal on first glance but look a little closer. Spotted by Matt Campbell down in Italy yesterday. The DAF bongs to Dutch company Theo Faassen BV. Loaded with agricultural machinery from Holland.

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If you think you can see what I’m seeing then leave your comments below. Looks like Theo Faassen have come up with a very versatile truck!

Search for one of Ralph’s Ladies

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Does anyone know if there are any of Ralph Davies 3 series Streamers left in the UK or Ireland?? I know Mr Garlick is lucky enough to have found one, but are there anymore??? From what I know most of these black Scania’s have been exported including this one. If you know of another anywhere I would very much like to know where and who has it. Email me: ben@truckblog.co.uk or leave a comment below.

This is not my photo it came from some ones Facebook but I can’t remember who’s. Please tell me and I’ll credit you.