Energumen

second attempt at getting this on correct subject location.

Gear Maze is a great name for it, Energumen, do you remember it as being ply or was it rubber covered steel? I ask because if it was ply it must have been a repair, and quite a clever one at that!

I think my memory serves me correctly with it being plywood, but hey the hair has gone, and I think each strand took a million memory cells with it. Ha ha.

Hi Gents, new boy again.

The last one of these I saw was at a military vehicle show, on the Isle of Wight in the 90's, it also had a diesel engine fitted.

I have added a picture on Swills thread elsewhere on site, of one still in military attire. I believe it is the one we had in the TA at Brighton, but cannot be sure, as I picked the picture up later.

Hi again. I believe the gear Maze as I called it, was standard and mounted on brackets to the floor.

Yes I did get to drive it, but only a couple of times, and much to the chagrine of the Plant Sargeant, who tried to keep it for himself, I think the driving position gave best public display of his brilliant white chevrons. Ha ha

Hi, yes, this was a Scammel Constructor RE. It was paired with a Tasker 20ton low loader, and designated for plant vehicle transport in a Field Park Squadron.

I do not have much recall of the technical spec. but There is probably something on line, which I will search out for you.

In the picture, that is either a Catterpillar D4 or Fowler Mk.7 bulldozer on the trailer. Though it was used for much of our plant. The loading method was 2 pairs of rear wheels across the back, each pair fixed by a large nut and with curved, slotted capture brackets, which, when you jacked up the rear end with hand operated toe jacks and undid the Large nuts, would allow the wheels to come away in pairs, you could then adjust the toe jacks.

The engine was a Rolls Royce Petrol, and when connected and fully loaded, I understand we got between 1 and 2 miles per gallon.

The gear selection was via a Plywood fretwork type gate.

That is a start.

Incidentally, I have just seen mention of the Albion 10 ton machinery , (Workshop), wagon, we had one of those as well, a fantastic mobile workshop, where our guys made allsorts.

Lance Corporal indeed. Well, that takes me back many years.

There I was newly promoted and marching a squad of twenty odd TA recruits of the 5th bn. Queens Regiment TA, around the old SS camp at Cella in Germany. (Host unit The Royal Green Jackets).

Full of it?, well yes, that and a little more.

"Le-eft, Right Le-eft, Right >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>"

"Keep those arms straight, thumbs pushed back, Chest Out, Chin in, Look your own Height, etc. etc. etc. You will all know the drill.

I am marching them across a grassed area to a Fieldcraft lesson.

Now me being busy watching what the squad were doing, and them wishing all sorts of evil upon my personage, I did not see, and they did not care to warn me of, a massive hole from which a large fire hydrant had been removed.

Lady luck, we all know, can sometimes be ones best friend, well yes, she was theirs, but totally deserted me. Their course took them right past the very edge of the hole, and me, base over apex, right into the muddy morass at the bottom.

Well, they kept marching, laughing as quietly as they could, until, I could not help but see the funny side myself and just sat in the hole, smothered in shush, and laughing like a hyena sitting on a peacocks plumage, till they broke off to come back for me.

How are the mighty, (especially the self important), fallen.

And here is another from the 1960's TA Days

Hi Ya, love the Old 10 ton Albion Cargo. That is the model we had in your neck of the woods in the early 1960's.

Royal Engineers (RE TA at Preston Barracks Brighton. And thereby hangs another tale. Having posted it on another site, is it ok to redo it on here?.

Could one of the site administrators please advise.

Hi Folks, a little diversion, this link is to a guy called Steve, who drives across America as an employee of a transport company, his web cam, runs 24/7, through his screen, even when he is asleep on board or delivering.

He has a cat, (heartwarming story that), and he is just back on the road after a few days of being off road in Omaha with electrical/management fault.

He has previous videos and beautiful still shots on the site too.

At this time UK 1530, he appears to be in a truck stop, he pulls in roughly every 2 hrs. from what I have seen. if you mail him, mention Energumen.

This is not a commercial link, I have just had a couple of e mail exchanges with him.

Enjoy, I do, and why not mail him?. http://bigrigtravels.smugmug.com/

You do realise you have just cost me another shirt!!! :argh:And those stretchy trousers can get a bit tight.

Serves you right for stuffing them with rolled up hankies in the crotch.

Re; the Incredible Hulk films, shame that, most people would sell their wives to star in the movies. And I'll bet you get thousands of free shirts from advertising sponsors.

You asked for that. Ha ha.:rofl:

Hi Tony, thank you for the welcome, most kind.

If you are 'on the Island', you wouldn't have come across the GMC 353 or Richard Le Brocq in your travels, would you?.

There may be a few modern day car manufacturers looking to double stack their production before long. The young families who have gone along with the all too recent, truism, of 'buy the best home you can afford because they will always go up in value faster than inflation' are sure in for some hard times now. Maybe they should have bought Jeeps. Lol

This is the last of my Brother's little collection. (the 6X6 Dodge he ordered on the Sunday before his demise, was due to be delivered the next week, we had to cancel it.).

This little baby was Con's pet, in fact most of our work on it was cosmetic and minor mechanicles and running gear.

I have a wooden boxed Special edition Book 1278/2000. I will put it on the sale and wanted page.

Hi Enigma, not in our experience, anyway, they are not exactly volvos are they, But I love the way they drive.

Cheers 6X6, who knows, if the lottery comes I, I may well buy one or ten, and get back on the circuit.

Hi Colonel, you are very welcome, the link came from my desire to acquaint myself with those vehicles.

Being a Nebraska man, may I offer you a great link?. This is an American Trucker who I have been following live on his cab link as he crosses the States. He is I think still off the Road at the moment at the Volvo Truck dealers in Omaha, but there are several videos and beautiful still pictures on his web site. http://bigrigtravels.smugmug.com/

Enjoy.

Hello Bodge Deep, many thanks for your comments , much appreciated.

Hi MB, thanks for your compliment and warm welcome.

I look forward to many happy hours of browsing.

I am just struggling with memory a bit nowadays, but I am pretty sure that my old friend Clive bought this from me, when I was sorting the disposals, and I notice he still has one on his credits.

Here is an interesting link I found. As I knew nothing of these cars.

http://www.btinternet.com/~ian.a.paterson/equiparmourarmouredcars.htm

Hi RSM, (self appointed, I'll wager), Ha ha.

I do miss those days so much, but when the vehicles and mountains of kit had to go, I walked away. I have always dreaded the thought of being a hanger on.

I hope all your family are well and would appreciate you passing on my regards.

Well, I too must get some shut eye. speak soon.

Another shot of GMC with The 50 Ca. Browning in prominence.

Just the Ford Jeep to come now. Later.