Edd

The answer has come up on one of the steam forums. There is one on each side. One goes to the back wheel and one to the front wheel and they attach to holes there. Stops the wheels turning when winching. Ed

One suggestion was that it was for attaching to a chock that you placed under the rear wheel to hold the engine still when winching. Same idea as the Scammell Pioneers use. Ed

Yes, sadly not me! It has gone to Dave Crouch. Did look a lovely example and very cheap. Cheers Ed

It's not only military vehicles it happens with. My girlfriend shouted at a young boy to stop him touching a hot part of a 5" gauge steam loco. Only for the mother to say I'm sure she didn't mean to shout at you. To which my girlfriend replied yes I did! Mother didn't seem very happy, I'm sure she would have been less happy with a burnt child. Ed

Video clip of the funeral procession: Something went wrong... Superb and fitting send off, complete with incidental fly by both on the way in and the way out. Ed

Good to see you got it home. Looks like you have made a good start on the cab. Did you manage to get to the bottom of the running issues? Ed

Life has got more complicated. Somebody I'm sure will be along soon to explain the new process. The first important bit is that the local DVLA offices no longer exist. Everything has to now be done via Swansea. Ed

Hi Alan, PM came through and I've replied. Cheers Ed

Hi Alan, The balls will be hardened but not sure on the actual tube. The hollow bit will be to save weight which helps stop bounce and also may be to give the system a bit of flex. If you want a correct replacement I should have a spare one. We picked up a scrap 6LW last year and I'm certain it's got the push rods with it. Cheers Ed

A few years ago a friend had a similar problem. Under the by laws in his area they could tell him to not park it on his drive. But he did exactly as you say and parked it on the road. Council called the police out who politely pointed out that as it was taxed, mot'd and insured he was perfectly allowed to park it on the road. We have also had a similar issue with our neighbour complaining about vehicles on our drive. Luckily we have a sensible planning officer who pointed out to them that it was our drive and what we parked there was our business and nothing to do with them. Although they do complain if we park in front of their house. If they were polite and asked us if we could avoid parking in front of the house then fine. So good luck and hopefully you have a sensible council. Ed

The rules are so confusing that the easy answer has been to tell people that they can't tow trailers but you have always been able to tow a trailer - just with limits. My other half passed her test a few years ago and we looked into what she could and couldn't do. The rules stated that you could tow a trailer up to 750kg. And that you could tow a combination up to 3500kg but at that time there were limits on how heavy the trailer could be compared to the tow vehicle and I think it went on maximum laden weight rather than what it was actually loaded to. It sounds like the rules have now been simplified. Ed

Have you tried keyway plant hire in Gloucester? They have overwidth lowloaders and advertise on their site for low loader services. Ed

Another one to add to the list. Chassis no. 8064, from contract - 6/VEH/7443. Military reg - 93BD66. Civvy reg - RVF447W Engine - Meadows diesel, believed original Now living in Lancashire and awaiting restoration. Ed

Brilliant choice! Which model is it? Can you put some photos up and a bit of an idea of what parts you are after? I've got a few recovery parts and may have some more bits spare in the future. Cheers Ed

A lot of British vehicles were captured by the Germans. I know that some were recovered by the allies towards the end of the war. So it might be ones of those. Ed

That's very quick progress! Looks like you are doing a superb job. Will be good to see it out refreshed. Ed

Ordered April 1943 so probably delivered sometime in 1944. Part of an order for 450 SV2/S recoveries. There were 2 Pioneer recoveries at one of the army bases in Aldershot until the mid 90's. Remember passing them on the train. Both seemed to live outside and did move position so I assume they were still being used for something. Ed

I think it's ex-Severn Beach recovery and isn't too far from Weston Super Mare. It does look in fairly reasonable condition. Ed

Superb photos Mark. Very similar to the state mine is currently in. I had the same issue with the steering, took two people and still had appalling lock.!. Luckily it is freeing up with use of just grease gun and elbow grease! I think mine probably had a similar crane in it although it's lost it at some point and no idea what recovery garage had it. Out of interest what year is yours? Cheers Ed

Good to see another gun tractor owner on the forum. Do you have any photos of the restoration that you could share? Would be very helpful for me when I can get back to the restoration of mine. Cheers Ed

I got the book British Vehicles in Whermacht Service. Absolutely superb book with lots of photos of the early WWII british vehicles. Has helped answer a lot of questions on my own Pioneer already. Ed

Very nice photos! After Dunkirk the germans had a lot of R100's and used them extensively. I do wonder if my own R100 was one of them as it was delivered in 1938. One thing that is causing me some puzzlement at the moment - does anyone know what the headlights on these ones are? The other early tank transporter was snow white and the tractor unit made it back to the UK. Was still in existence up until the 1970's but don't know if it survived any later. Ed

The rules used to state that you can have 7500kg combined weight with any combination of tow vehicle and trailer. But if the tow vehicle is 7500kg then you can have an additional 750kg trailer making 8250kg. 750kg is a common trailer weight in the rules. You can have one behind a minibus and behind an HGV if you've got a rigid licence. Worth double checking if you are planning on being over 7500kg combined weight. It has all got increasingly confusing with the different cut off dates. Ed

Remember that the 8250kg limit is only if you have a 750kg trailer. If the trailer is heavier then you can only go to 7500kg. Cheers Ed

If you have the old type licence then you can tow up to 7500kg combined weight or 8250kg if the trailer is only 750kg. It does not matter if it is tow ball, tow pin or fifth wheel. There have been a number of Landrovers running with 5th wheel. Dixon and Bates used to do a fifth wheel conversion and the racecourses have used one for towing starting stalls. Ed