Steifbear Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Stolen from another forum, anyone got an idea as to what the tractor unit is? This spectacular accident occurred in June 1945 when brake fade caused this USAF aviation spirit tanker to have brake failure and it crashed through the cast iron railings and landed, as you can see, on the rocks below the bridge. The driver, an African American and his dog walked away from the scene with bruises only. The tanker was not carrying any fuel at the time of the accident and was en route to RAF Valley on Anglesey. I was talking to an elderly resident of the village a few days ago who remembered the recovery operation to lift the vehicle which entailed the USAF and the US Army and he recalled the extensive equipment they deployed. The task was accomplished in less than a day The tractor unit I believe was a Scania but I will defer to those better informed than I. Pete Stevens-with-a-v Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 It's an M35 series so it would not have been 1945! Possibly 1954? Certainly post 1947 as it has USAF on the bonnet and that did not exist before then. I think the M35 first came out in about 1950 with the tractor truck having it's own number which I would have to look up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 An empty tank? Someone's Gaurdian Angel was on weekend overtime!:wow: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 And interestingly these tanker trailers were being refurbished by a contractor at Preston in 1957......could have been en route from contractor to new base? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.Rimmer Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 I know the guy who posted this on the other forum,and funnily replied with basically the same info Adrian posted!. The bridge is actually Waterloo Bridge at Betws y Coed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 As Adrian says definitely M series. As Matt says the location is Betws y Coed, there is a long descent on the A5 from Pentrefoelas and until the A55 Expressway opened carried a great deal of heavy traffic. Lots of trucks have come to grief on that stretch of road over the years but these days it isn't used much by heavy vehicles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Don't let N.O.S. know where it is - he will want to restore it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadline Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 Its much later than the 40's... I would say 60's. Its NOT: M211 M135 M35 My guess is M-52.. The fenders are way to wide to be an M35. It had a winch (the story goes that the headlights were in the 'upper' holes when a winch was installed to clear the bumper). Also the BO driving light under the right headlight makes it a tactical vehicle of some sort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpu121265 Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 I like the 'no smoking within 50 feet', therefore not 'No Smoking', just keep 50 feet away. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.