Mick Norton

Richard, The Wainscott D4C remains in situ. (Ex 9 Para) and is still the backdrop for course snaps. Mick

Another image in colour

Thanks Wally.

The Sappers used to have Patterson water purification units in the 1960s/1970s. I attach photos of same used on Operation Crown in Thailand at the Hong Khong Base Cap on the road project in 1967. Has anyone any additional information?

Can anyone add any information regarding the ex RE Cat D4 dozer. Date of entry into service? Numbers built for War Office? Dozer blade and side arm type? Costs? I think registration is missing a digit? I should have more information shortly from the equipment data plate once revealed!

Utt61 Spotted the attached image on Eastleigh history FB site. Crane DS 414 Taylor and Hubbard? What sort of vintage? Mick

Many thanks for the feedback and fascinating to hear of your work with railway steam cranes. I will look out for the reference publications you mentioned especially the one on the Longmoor Military Railway. My own tenuous link with "Railways" is that I was born and brought up in Eastleigh where my late Dad was employed as an "Iron Moulder" in the Railway Works Iron Foundry for some 35 years after WW2. My Great Uncle John Richard Norton was killed in WW1 whilst serving with the Railway Operating Division of the Royal Engineers where his unit was, 39th Broad Gauge Railway Miscellaneous Trades Company RE. He's buried at the Dernancourt War Cemetery in France. (See attached) Thankyou again for your time and the information.

Many thanks for the huge swathe of detail. May I ask how you sourced? I tried the "Friends of Cowans Sheldon" on FB but no luck? Many thanks from an old Sapper Navvy Op (10 RBs)

Longmoor early 1920s. Longmoor 1920 2.jfif Longmoor 1920.jfif

Dear All, The attached image shows Royal Engineers at the Railway Operating Division's HQ at Longmoor between WW1 and WW2. Can anyone identify the crane type and light tank being lifted and Scammell being loaded onto rail flat? Mick Norton

John, I should emphasise that the roads going up through Malay and Thailand in 1967 were appalling often unpassable when the monsoons arrived. Additionally once into Thailand there were no black topped roads just rough tracks and bridges that the Japs had left since WW2. 1,200 miles is a huge obstacle even for a Clarks transmission. There was a second Michigan 285 with a Rolls Royce engine compared to the Cummings and that proved equally as unreliable in the long term and eventually both were returned to the UK after the Thailand job finished in May 1968. I often travelled up into Malaya with my Aveling Austin 99H grader (at 19mph!), with round trips from Singapore sometimes achieving 100 miles. But nothing compared to the 285 journey. I attach an image of the late Jock Cameron my great friend, the 285 operator, who was a formidable roads and airfields builder in those halcyon days when the Royal Engineers were very busy worldwide. Mick

In 1967 there was a dire need to facilitate a means of loading tippers with laterite for the road project. The Michigan 75 DS was on site on the Thai/Laos border project but proving unreliable. A decision was made to utilise a prototype Michigan 285 shovel loader with Cummings engine that was sat in the Plant yard of 54 (FARELF) Support Squadron RE at Morris Lines in Singapore 1,200 miles away! As time was the enemy some bright spark decided that the Michigan should be driven (under its own steam) the entire distance from Singapore to the Thai/Laos border and the late Jock Cameron (our Plant Sgt) was the chosen driver. The journey took nearly three weeks until a weary Jock Cameron drove it up to the laterite pit on the road and handed over to myself as the designated operator. The mammoth trip by road had taken its toll and after only one month the transmission developed major problems blamed entirely on the decision to move the 285 by road.

Thanks John. From memory there were qty 168? Therefore just over 4 x tons..

NOS?

As a Royal engineer plant operator in the 1960s I often helped the Scammell crews load/unload their prime mover ballast blocks. My question is, "What were the weight of the individual ballast weights and the cumulative total?" Cheers Mick

The Gainsborough was manufactured by Marshalls of Gainsborough and they produced 150 units in the early 1960s. Does anyone know how I might access EMERs for this equipment?

The US Naval Construction Battalions (CBs) became known as the "SEABEES." in WW2. These equipment's went ashore at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands after the Japanese forces were defeated.

Yes, with 300 foot of 1 inch rope.

The lower Vickers is towing a 12/16 cu yd Onions scraper at the Ponderosa Wainscott in the earluy 1960s.

Some military Fowler Challenger dozers and literature. Fowler Challenger.jfif

Some RE Vickers VR 180s. All early 1960s. Vickers dozing.jfif Vickers on trailer.jfif

A couple of Vickers VIgor VR180s. One at Greven Airstrip construction in West Germany in 1968. Royal Engineers task. The other an early VR180 version rope operated.

Wally, any images? Mick

Dear All, Does anyone have any detail on post WW2 Sherman tanks that were converted to a civil engineering role? The two photographs I attach show typical conversions such as pulling a towed box scraper. Any information would be appreciated. Mick