B100 LOADER wrote:Scanned this from my L C Lewis book.
This is the way that I remember the RB 's being transported by Short Bros in the 1960's.Don't think this would be allowed these days.
Click on photo to enlarge.
Martyn
Back in the 60's when I worked for Beck and Pollitzer it was quite usual to carry smaller navvies either with the jib over the cab or out over the back using four-in-line Knock Out Back Axle (KOBA) trailers - hard work with jacks and timbers or loading "over the side" which required a degree skill and nerve - no hydraulic ramps or detachable goose necks in those days.
As well as speed and convenience there was another reason - the Construction and Use regulations. Here my memory is a bit vague but basically one was able to carry an abnormal load under C&U regs so long as it was "indivisible". This meant that if the top jib section or even the bucket was detached it could not legally be carried on the same trailer and a second vehicle would have to be employed (and paid for).
Another quirk of the C&U regs at that time was the prohibition of the use of "jeep dollies" to spread the load - the regs prohibited pulling two trailers (unless you were a travelling showman or threshing contractor) and those in power decided that a dolly was a trailer.
For heavier stuff Category 1,2 and 3 had not been invented then there was just Special Types that involved weeks of discussion with the then Ministry of Transport, County Surveyors departments, GPO/Post Office Telephones and every Constabulary along the route some of which were an absolute nightmare to deal with (West Midlands comes to mind!) Strangely enough, considering the density of traffic and the road system the Met were one of the best - the B8 Map Room presided over one L.M and his crew was always helpful. You had to submit a route - by Telex in those days - (they were not allowed to give you one) which, if it was a bit wide of the mark, would produce a phone call along the lines of "what on earth do think you are doing why not...........!"
Route planning was interesting with the London A-Z having several instances of roads being shown as going over railway lines when the actually went under them and the bridge that takes the rail lines from Victoria Station over the Embankment and the Thames having different height markings in each direction and both being inaccurate as a result of road resurfacing!
Happy Days!
Angus