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Belaz dump trucks of the 1970s/80s in the UK

Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:44 am
by roadcommander2
Does anybody remember the Russian Belaz dump trucks that were imported by UMO.
Radwell Gravels in Bedfordshire had at least 1, WH Malcolm of Scotland also had at least 1.

Does anybody have any pics?

Re: Belaz dump trucks of the 1970s/80s in the UK

Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:53 am
by RichardJW~
Apologies for 'shang-hai-ing' your thread but here's a couple of KrAZ trucks built in Ukraine but working in Central Asia


Image


Image

Re: Belaz dump trucks of the 1970s/80s in the UK

Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 1:22 pm
by XS650
Do you mean the long bonneted 6x4 ones that looked like wartime Diamond T's ?
I have a brochure and a road test in a mag that i could post on here.
Dowsett civil engineering had a big fleet of them in 70's

Re: Belaz dump trucks of the 1970s/80s in the UK

Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 1:45 pm
by roadcommander2
Thanks for your replies gents.

Yes Craig, that is the one that Im thinking of, be interested to read the road test and have a look at the brochure, if you can post them that would be great.

Richard, the top photo is very close to the Belaz.
I think Kamaz, Belaz, Zil & Mil are all related along the way.

Cheers Mark

Re: Belaz dump trucks of the 1970s/80s in the UK

Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:18 pm
by RichardJW~
Technically they are all different, from different parts of the former Soviet Union, but imported by one company.

The ending of AZ relates to the Russian translation of Avto Zavod in other words Auto Factory.

For example the KAMAZ is produced over in West-Central Russia in the city of Kamski in Tatarstan

http://kamaz.net/en/

KrAZ is short for Kremachug Avto Zavod which is on the territory of Ukraine, around 300kms south of Kiev in the direction of Dneperpetrovsk

http://www.autokraz.com.ua/eng/main.php

ZIL stands for Zavod Imeni Likhachov, factory named after Mr. Likachov who was one of the original founders of the Moscow Auto Plant.

In addition to these there is MAZ, by now I reckon you've picked it up, built in the Minsk Avto Zavod - in Byelorussia.

http://www.maz-man.com/auto/trucks/

Going off in the direction of Ag. machinery the Belarus tractor is referred to as the MTZ which translates to Minsk Tractor Zavod.
The crawler I posted the other day was a ChTZ, produced in the city of Chelyabinsk.

Re: Belaz dump trucks of the 1970s/80s in the UK

Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:07 am
by Kevin Bridle
Gents,
There was a at least a dozen Belaz 35 tonners working at Clevedon Somerset on the M5 going south towards Weston-super-Mare, Chris Blackwell also had Aveling Barford SN35, Cat 769B and a few Euc R35, the Belaz were very crude and very noisy.
regards
Kevin.

Re: Belaz dump trucks of the 1970s/80s in the UK

Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:34 pm
by roadcommander2
Richard thanks for your info, Ive had a bit of a browse at the various websites, all very interesting.

Thank you also, Kevin, was Arthur Duckett from Highbridge in Somerset ( see my new post under companies), operating any of those on the M5 or did he buy his Belaz from that job, do you know?

Cheers Mark

Re: Belaz dump trucks of the 1970s/80s in the UK

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:48 am
by XS650
Construction News 1978 -The Belaz 256 was quite a big seller in its time.2nd behind Maggie Deutz ,not surprised at £6k less than opposition. What percentage would this be ?Click pic to enlarge.
belaz1.JPG

Re: Belaz dump trucks of the 1970s/80s in the UK

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:58 pm
by RichardJW~
Excellent find there XS.....if you read down the third column it states that the BELAZ was badged as a KrAZ in the Soviet markets

Re: Belaz dump trucks of the 1970s/80s in the UK

Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 1:53 pm
by DaveS
Wow! Nicol of Dysart on the A9. He came onto site in a Porche.

Apparently these trucks were a nightmare for Nicol, and the company's demise was linked to them and they ended up running part of the fleet and used the rest for spares although they were fairly new.

One driver spoke of comming down the side of Glenfarg (the section of the M90 Forth Road Bridge - Perth) and shifting into a lower gear for a bit of engine braking, to have the bellhousing shear along with transmission mounts.

Moxys finished the job.

Malcolm Plant had six Belaz dumpers.

Dave.