Mick Norton

A few more images of the WW1 piling operations. WW1 RE Piling 4.jfif WW1 RE Piling 3.jfif WW1 RE piling 2.jfif WW1 RE Piling 1.jfif

Dear All, Can anyone throw any light on this Royal Engineer Rail Mounted Piling Rig? Not sure of the date of the image though possibly post WW1? Steam driven and maybe a legacy of WW1 Railway Operating Division. I rescued the original image from a skip at the Royal School of Military Engineering in 1984. Mick

BillS, Any chance of a copy of the scale plan? Mick

Shortly after D Day, diesel shunting locos were brought ashore from landing craft on the invasion beaches to aid the RE Railway Operating Companys in their demands for motive power as they began to operate the French railways. I think the dozers towing are Cat D7s? Can anybody throw any light on the trailer carrying the locomotive? Is it track mounted? difficult to see. Mick D Day Sappers bringing locomotive ashore.jfif

Operation Crown Thailand 1967 - Post Crown road. Cat D8H push loading a Euclid motorised scraper in a borrow pit area adjacent to the main alignment. This particular Euclid had been used on Christmas Island as part of Operation Grapple and the H Bomb testing in the late 1950, early 1960s.

Scammell, SMT2 trailer and a Cat dozer in El Adem. Great photograph courtesy of the ACB.

John, Some copies of Terence Cuneo's great paintings covering the Vickers Vigor. Mick

John, First time I've seen the civilian operator's manual. Looks well illustrated. I have the Military equivalent, issued by the Directorate of Royal Engineers Equipment, WO Code No 18395. Tractors, Crawler, Size 1, Vickers Vigor, Angledozer, Hydraulic Vickers, Cable Control Unit, Vickers VGRCU Winch, Single Drum, Vickers VGTW. Contracts 6/P & EQ/23873 & 24334 USER HANDBOOK 1959. Mick

I am new to the HMVF site but might be able to help you with RE dozer data. Mick

This old RB face shovel is working on the construction of the Bukit Bahru Ampitheatre project in Malaya in 1968. The operator is Pete Alexander of 11 Independent Fd Sqn RE who were based at Terendak. Fast forward to 2020 and finding a plant operator to proficiently operate a roped excavator is almost mission impossible. Mick Norton

Richard, That was 9 Independent Parachute Sqn RE. Mick

Dear All, The airportability of the Muirhill A5000 was a big selling point in the 1970s. Mick Norton

Zero Five Two, Here's a shot of an armoured A5000 Muirhill. Notoriously unstable but it had a greater "reach" than the Allis Chalmers which at times was a God send. Mick

John - 1950/Richard, In my 32 years service with earthmoving plant with the Royal Engineers the Allis Chalmers was a cracking bit of kit with very little modification off the commercial production line, which guaranteed its success.. For the N Ireland (once the armoured cab had been fitted) they came into their own and were invaluable support to the infantry role during rioting. With the armoured cab and wee visor all round visibility was very difficult and hand telephones were installed at the rear on the battery boxes with a speaker over your head in the cab which the infantry support could communicate with the operator. It didn't work that well..!! A fire blanket was always close to hand as rioters would often lob half a dozen bottles of petrol at the cab and then a "Molotov Cocktail" to warm up the proceedings. Known affectionately as "The Scoobie" the Armoured Allis Chalmers going full belt in a riot situation put the fear of Christ into those in its way. John, although the military plant operator role is a little different to the civilian counterpart we all share the love of operating/repairing earthmoving plant. The Allis Chalmers wasn't always used in the heat of Londonderry and Belfast as we did a lot of normal quarrying and earthmoving in places like Clogher, Dungannon, Florence Court and the Moy. Although the Allis Chalmers work in places like Belfast had it's worrying moments the most worrying moment for myself was having to clamber up our remote controlled Tower Crane that was sited at Crossmaghlen in S Armagh with my arse going "sixpence half a crown!" happy days. Mick

Vulcan being towed by an RE Terex tractor. The RAF were not happy when this image appeared..!

Dear All, A few memories from Northern Ireland which illustrate the versatility of the Royal Engineers Allis Chalmers Medium Wheeled Tractor. Mick Norton

Yes it is and Steve is most grateful for the HMVT feedback reference his Tasker trailer.

Taff, I remember you from 54. I left in March 1969. Were you in Resources with Fred Manning and Roy Reed? I'm still in contact with many ex 54 guys, Frank Topham, Pete Melia, Jake Corcoran, Ron Tobin, Dinger Bell, George Birrell, Barney Barnes, Fred Manning, Trev Lumby, Trev Clough and Al Barker though many have sadly passed on, Jock Cameron, Al Stockton, Charlie Hankinson, Harry Dyer, Steve Oakley and Fred Sloover. Happy days. Do you have any photos? (micknorton1944@gmail.com> Regards, Mick

Wally, Once again many thanks for your feedback. Mick

Dear Richard/Wally, Indebted for data thus far. Tasker trailer in question not in batch as outlined in earlier thread by Wally Duggan and holds former WD registration number, 87 BL 74. both trailer plates with relevant information attached. I note one plate denotes that overhaul took place in possibly 1959. Can you add information for BL and period covered? Thanks, Mick

Richard, Many thanks. Mick

During the mid 1960s the Corps of Royal Engineers were committed to the construction of an airfield and road at Leong nok Tha in N E Thailand. The mainstay for all dozer operations on Operation Crown was a fleet of Cat D8H dozers throughout that period. The earthworks on both projects were conducted by Cat D8H's with blades or towing 12 to 16 cu yd Onions Scrapers. All D8s fitted with "Donkey Engines" for starting assistance for turning the main engine. The only time they stopped working was during the monsoons. One of the attached D8 images shows a Buddhist Monk blessing the dozer before the start of the 25 mile road project. I spent 22 months on Operation Crown as a Plant Operator with the majority of my time on Cat D8Hs or the 99H Grader. Happy days.

Wally, Many thanks, I hope to have that very same information soon. Mick

Thanks Richard, Is the Tasker featured similarly to the information you provided on the SMT? Mick