Fugly Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Hello All Just a quick posting to let you know I have bought a Bedford RL Light Recovery Truck. Thanks to some valuable help, I have been informed that it is an ex AFS vehicle , supplied to the Durham AFS, then later to Flintshire fire brigade. It needs restoration on the cab, and the braking system . If anyone can help with cab panels or wheel cylinders for a 1962 RL please let me know ! Pics attached !! JIm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeePig Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Nice, I don't see enough RL stuff on here! trevor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyFowler Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Lovely , well done for taking her on and good luck with the rebuild ! :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retriever Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 for brake parls try Bernie Smith on 01536 790790 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 Lovely vehicle!! Are you sure about the AFS part though?? Only this one has a cupola whereas AFS vehicles normally had a solid roof with the twin lights front and centre..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooky Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Lovely vehicle!! Are you sure about the AFS part though?? Only this one has a cupola whereas AFS vehicles normally had a solid roof with the twin lights front and centre..... Dont think so Listed in The Green Machine as in service post AFs with Durham then to Flintshire 8/73 To Clwyd/Rhyl 1974 and was at Mold in 1992 Just as original poster said Sure I have a picture of it in service somwhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 (edited) http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p311606506/hF6D4521#hf6d4521 http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p311606506/hF6D4521#h1cbf2a0b Some more info: http://www.g0akh.f2s.com/Fire/373_ALC_History.htm Edited March 28, 2014 by radiomike7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugly Posted March 28, 2014 Author Share Posted March 28, 2014 Thanks for all the comments and especially the pictures. I was reliably informed that the AFS version had a towing dolly on the top and modified lifting gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted March 28, 2014 Share Posted March 28, 2014 Thanks for the clarification - reason I asked is I've only ever seen AFS vehicles looking like this: http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p311606506/hF6D4521#h6115b6f Always good to learn something new!! :cheesy: :cheesy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 I have crawled over several of the ex AFS Rcys especially 377 ALC which was the Scottish one- (they were allocated one per home defence region) , I have also crawled over several ex REME ones and couldn't find any difference; The Rcy were the only batch of AFS vehicles to have an unmodified military pattern cab, all the other batches of RL had a solid cab roof and the Commer Q4s had many changes for AFS use , but the Bedford RLC Rcy were unmolested ! TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted March 29, 2014 Share Posted March 29, 2014 Hi Ted, have you ever seen a REME one with a davit, I had always assumed it was used on the AFS ones to deploy the ambulance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin craig Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Regardless of what it is, I am green with envy, I like it and hope you are very happy with it over the years, smashing looking truck. Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Austin Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Great to see another RL getting some love! That cab looks mint! :-) Looking forward to seeing the progress on this! Austin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan76 Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 Dont think soListed in The Green Machine as in service post AFs with Durham then to Flintshire 8/73 To Clwyd/Rhyl 1974 and was at Mold in 1992 Just as original poster said Sure I have a picture of it in service somwhere Interesting - I co-own the ex-AFS Bedford RL petrol carrier (GYL 32C) which was sold to Clywd Fire Brigade in the late 80s and used by them as a foam carrier for some years. Here it is sat outside one of their stations when in service: http://www.historical-fire-engines.com/img-bedford-105.htm Here it was yesterday: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djwalker Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Excellent machine! For (some) cab panels, try Brian Whiteside (nr Poole) (Wimbourne). He has some other stuff too. Rhys Hughes (Fishguard) also has loads of RL stuff. Are the panels beyond repair?? It is fantastic to see one the of rare ex-AFS wreckers still in existence, and your photos show clearly some of the interesting mods at the rear end. There is a really nice guy out there (Tony) who has lovingly created a beauty of an AFS wrecker from the "standard" army version, with these AFS mods. In recent years he has taken it to the Welland Steam Rally as part of an AFS event, but unfortunately that won't be repeated this year. You may well know him... I am the current custodian of two ex REME wreckers which I am absolutely mad on. At end of May, REME are arriving as near to my home as they can get with a MAN SVR + trailer to "borrow" YSU 350 for a ReccyMech get-together and action day with some other, BIG, ex REME wreckers, including Scammell and Foden EKA. YSU 350 still needs some work on the cab, but wiring, air, and brakes are all renewed. Still work to do on it. The other I haven't yet touched, but it drove 100 miles OK before it overheated. (Turns out the engine block cooling is blocked up.) I have an original copy of the User Handbook which I am going to get copied and when it is done, if you want, you are welcome to a copy. Regards, Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 With respect Dan, neither the AFS or REME used wreckers, as per the thread title they were recovery vehicles and as you rightly say they manned by Reccy Mechs not Wrecky Mechs:cool2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djwalker Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 With respect Dan, neither the AFS or REME used wreckers, as per the thread title they were recovery vehicles and as you rightly say they manned by Reccy Mechs not Wrecky Mechs:cool2: I stand corrected....But what is the distinction? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted April 30, 2014 Share Posted April 30, 2014 Wrecker is a description we seem to have inherited from over the pond, in the English language it is 'someone who wrecks or destroys'. Many years ago I had a severe ticking off from a REME officer when I referred to his Fodens as wreckers:embarrassed: "They are recovery vehicles, they don't go out wrecking anything" he barked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djwalker Posted May 1, 2014 Share Posted May 1, 2014 Yes - An Americanism, I'm sure. We should call things by the correct name. So from now on it will be "Tractor, 3 Ton, GS, Recovery, Light, 4 x 4, Bedford, RL"! Regards. Wrecker is a description we seem to have inherited from over the pond, in the English language it is 'someone who wrecks or destroys'. Many years ago I had a severe ticking off from a REME officer when I referred to his Fodens as wreckers:embarrassed: "They are recovery vehicles, they don't go out wrecking anything" he barked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morris C8 Posted May 3, 2014 Share Posted May 3, 2014 A few photos of REME Bedfords from my collection. Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzy-t Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 A few photos of REME Bedfords from my collection. Keith Can any one please tell me how many Bedford RL wreckers were made, please, a lad on Bedford Owners on FB recons only 10 were made I would imagine a lot more than that made it, seeing as how successful the RL was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 the key card records show that the 3 ton Bedford RLC WRECKER in service with only the army in the registration numbers DL started at 00 DL 82 up to 01 DL 31 In the CL RANGE the numbers from 35 CL 46 to 36 CL 45 were also Bedford RLC WRECKERs some what more than 10 we had two at the museum for a while and there was one at ESKMILLS at the same time l have not looked for any more in the files l think the point has been made Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Allegedly 9 built for the AFS, almost identical to the REME ones and even came with a cupola. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfire Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 I want one! Cheers, Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fugly Posted October 15, 2014 Author Share Posted October 15, 2014 Just a quick update - Work has progressed (slowly) - all the brakes are now overhauled , and I have been collecting panels for the cab re-build, which will progress ( slowly) this winter. I have been distracted by an Eager Beaver .... I attach a photo of the Bedford , withy my father stood next to it - we were about to use the jib to take down a large tree branch. ( And yes I know its on singles on the back, the other tyres are just being added), and no , I wont go on the road like this ...... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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