radiomike7 Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Mine was ex RAF too, a mk1 from RAF Kinloss which was originally blue, then yellow and IRR when transferred to REME. It was modified to take a snow plough and had provision for a pair of high level headlamps bolted to the brush guard. The cab was double skinned and also had the heater unit with pipes to duct air to the windscreen and interior. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scurvey Knave Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Mine was ex RAF too, a mk1 from RAF Kinloss which was originally blue, then yellow and IRR when transferred to REME. It was modified to take a snow plough and had provision for a pair of high level headlamps bolted to the brush guard. The cab was double skinned and also had the heater unit with pipes to duct air to the windscreen and interior. Mike, We had a second ex RAF Explorer - 43BT27. I remember that we rubbed it down and red leaded it before giving a top coat of Deep Bronze Green. Painted the cab out with Eau de Nil to brighten it up a bit. Shortly after however, it bit the dust with a busted rear axle (unfortunately a common problem with our Explorers). I once seen an Explorer done out with de-misters and a proper heating system. Every year the Army used to go on a winter exercise in Norway and all the vehicles taking part were "winterised". I was in the tyre bay at Stirling workshops and the fitter was busy fitting metal studs into the tyres of the vehicles taking part. He told me about the Scammell being kitted out with a heater - I had a look at it in the workshop - loads of flexible stainless steel ducting fitted across the inside of the roof and de-misters above the windows. I would have loved to have that Explorer - our de-mister was an old rag and we were frozen during the winter. I learnt to drive Explorers on a Mk1 - 35BC61. It didn't have the hill holder handbrake (if I remember correctly it had a transmission brake which was none too effective). The guy teaching me how to drive it had a big 'ol "D" shackle - he would ratchet up the handbrake and when he was ready to drive off he would get the bite-point on the clutch and smack the brass button on top of the handbrake with the shackle - not pretty but it worked for him! 35BC61 ended it's life in the bone-yard at Stirling workshops sitting alongside another Mk. 1 35BC46 - we robbed parts off them for a couple of years before they disappeared. Regards - David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 From what I can see the BC ones are from the very first batch in 1950 that had a transmission brake as a left over from Pioneer days. The BT signifies receipts from another service but I'm sure you know that anyway. The maximum towed weight for an Explorer was just 16t, I suspect that was exceeded on a regular basis giving the rear axle a hard time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 as already said 35 BC 61 was from the first contract 6/V/3724 the registration numbers ran from 34 BC 92 TO 36 BC 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted January 31, 2017 Share Posted January 31, 2017 I couldn't remember the contract number but it' s all coming back now, they had a different air tank arrangement, a double skinned and insulated cab plus a few other differences to the later contracts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scurvey Knave Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Fares Please! Single ticket to Ruddington please - economy class! Regards - David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruxy Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Hhmm LOWMAC - ES (Low Machinery) , forget what the ES suffix signifies . RECTANK Cast bogies & Timpken axle-boxes - quite late build unless upgraded ,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean N Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Never mind the railway wagons, Willowbrook bodied Bedford VAS - or is the second one an Alexander body? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Never mind the railway wagons, Willowbrook bodied Bedford VAS - or is the second one an Alexander body? Wasn't Strachans another bodybuilder or was that only on the SB3 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Where and when was the bus being railed from? Glasgow area? The Lowmac is very similar to one that we have at Newbridge as part of our fleet. 25ton capacity so the bus should be well within limits. Decking should be Oak planking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scurvey Knave Posted February 8, 2017 Share Posted February 8, 2017 Where and when was the bus being railed from? Glasgow area? The Lowmac is very similar to one that we have at Newbridge as part of our fleet. 25ton capacity so the bus should be well within limits. Decking should be Oak planking. Railed from Dumbarton Central station to Ruddington - mid 70's. Easy job getting them on (though the ground clearance is a bit tight). Harder job getting the chocks in and nailed down and the chains on. Regards - David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean N Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Wasn't Strachans another bodybuilder or was that only on the SB3 ? They were but I can't recall if they made VAS etc. bodies. Judging by the shape of the missing radiator grille on the first one I assume it's one of those that had the grille that was like a panel with lots of small square punched holes in, which IIRC was on several different bodies on VAS and SB Last two that style I know of coming out of the MoD were VASs LAA 541L and LAA 543L, which were used as test vehicles at RAE. Both had jacks / stabilisers etc. like the office trailers and were subsequently converted to campers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scurvey Knave Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 Same type of job at Dumbarton station, same time period (mid to late 70's), this time with lightweight 5 ton trailers being returned to Ashchurch. Rail was the favoured method of transport this time. Regards - David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Comber Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Early 1990's off road video , Joe Daws and Mick Walters doing what they like best in Explorers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacehopper Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 This photo appeared in my local paper this week. Although it is common knowledge that 'an army lorry' once fell from the bridge into the River Tees this is the first time I have seen any photos. Nice to see that they allowed the public such a close view of the winching! 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.