Yesterday, after having attended a Mercedes event on the Drivers’ CPC at the nearby Mercedes World (or is it World of Mercedes?) Biglorryblog sneaks off for an hour to wander around the splendid Brooklands Museum where my guide is none other than former Conmmercial Motor Editor Allan Winn, now director the Museum. Prouldy showing me around his toys Allan is clearly as happy as the bacon producing mammal in the brown emulsifying substance...and with good reason. He’s a real enthusiast for old cars, commercials and aeroplanes and BLB heartily recommends a vist to the museum in Surrey just off the A3/M25. For more information click on this link to the museum's website.
That’s why yours truly wasn’t doing much blogging yesterday---but I did take these pictures on my travels and for old commercial vehicle fans there are some real treats starting with this Thornycroft 6x6 airfield crash tender pictured above (it still runs) powered by a straight-eight petrol engine. Sounds terrific.
Next we have this six-ton Chubb Spearhead rapid intervention vehicle from 1975 powered by a Chrysler H440-4V petrol lump and with an Allison auto.
This was a new one on me. It’s a BMC WF420 AvGas refueller from 1968 with a 70hp BMC four-cylinder Series 200 3.8-litre engine. The 4.2-tonner was built at Bathgate—and that’s the bit I didn’t know---indeed I can’t say I’ve seen to many bonneted BMCs, though no doubt Richard S can tell me all about it!
Ahhh the trusty Series III Land Rover 109—it was formerly the BAE Dunsfold aerodrome ambulance. Given its aviation heritage, Brooklands has a decent number of commercial vehicles that used to work on airfields in one capacity or another---like this David Brown 1948 heavy industry towing tractor.
Now click through here for more weird and wonderful machines from Brooklands,..and an appeal for old tyres for 'Milly' AND a BLB 'for a pie' quiz!
For all Bedford TK lovers on BLB (and I know there are many) here’s a pair of them including this rather unusual RAF mobile airfield control tower that was originally based at RAF Chivenor.
Now here’s a real beast…can you guess what it is? Oh alright then, it’s a jet-engine snow blower (again formerly used at Dunsfold) with a small Donkey engine that drives the old Austin KT truck chassis while a Rolls-Royce Avon jet engine from a Hawker Hunter Mk I fighter blows away the snow off the runway. You’d have thought they could have fitted reversible nozzles and used the jet to power the truck!
Behold the mighty ‘Milly’ still working for the museum on various duties. The ex-London Transport 1954 AEC Militant has an 11.3-litre six-cylinder diesel engine which delivers a racey 160hp. Allan tells me the only problem they have with the old girl is getting hold of tyres for her. So if anyone can help---or knows where Allan might get some new boots for Milly give him a call on 01932 857381 or e-mail him at info@brooklandsmuseum.com
Another AEC, this time a 4x2 Mercury MkV fueller from 1963 and next to it this Leyland Beaver—Alan admits that he knows nothing whatsoever about the Beaver..nor quite how it got there!
The museum has its own fire service and that means this Gloster Saro Meteor crash tender is not just for show.
Last but not least is this rather strange front-loading British Airways bus that stands in the shadow of the Brooklands Concorde…open the doors and brake sharply and it would also be a 'rapid unloading vehicle' too...so who can tell me anything about it?
Now for a pie what's this? And it may not be quite what it seems. Meanwhile if any of BLB's beloved anorak army has any more information on the above vehciles do share it with your leader by posting a comment.
Comments (5)
Hmmm the last one..... with its cast wheels, I'd wondered if it was something like an Asquith. However, DVLA lists it as a red 1963 Ford Zodiac!
I presume that the airside bus is an AEC Swift. These door arrangements were all the rage in the 1960s and 70s. I remember a report (probably in CM!) about some Leyland Nationals with a similar arrangement, and how the windscreens were specially made to take about 1" off the width. I wondered then why they bothered, and I still do!
Posted by Chris Gardner | January 31, 2008 8:20 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 08:20
What I forgot to tell Brian when he was here was that many of these vehicles will be out and about on Saturday this week (2nd February) as part of our special aviation day "Something in the Air". We hope to have at least a dozen of them (plus some delightful little airline vans like a BOAC Bedford CA crewbus) running in a parade at about 3pm. (And we'll be running some aircraft engines including the 24-litre, 530bhp, 1,300+ftlb Napier Lion engine in the Napier-Railton racing car, and running a Concorde lecture etc.) More details on our website, www.brooklandsmuseum.com
Posted by Allan Winn | January 31, 2008 9:47 AM
Posted on January 31, 2008 09:47
The BMC WF enjoyed quite a lenghty history, starting out as an Austin at Longbridge in the late 1950's, before being re-located to Bathgate as a BMC. As an export model this truck soldiered on until the late 70's/early 80's badged as a Leyland.I think it was replaced by the Leyland Landmaster.
I'm with Chris with the airport bus (I reckon it's probably an AEC Swift) and the Ergo Beaver is nice find too. Looks like they have some interesting vehicles at Brooklands.
Posted by Anonymous | February 2, 2008 9:45 AM
Posted on February 2, 2008 09:45
I think that the front loading bus was ex.Laker airlines,he used to drive through the old Stansted terminal and scoop the passengers up so he could have a quicker turnround of his planes.Budget airline at it,s best.
Posted by mick. | February 5, 2008 7:18 PM
Posted on February 5, 2008 19:18
I flew Wellington MK 10 Mk !3 and Mark 14 back in 44 and 45 in the Middle east and Balkan Air force. I suppose there are lots of us about still but an old mate has just sent me a cutting Fri 20 June Allan Winn
How wonderful that you and your team had done the re construction of R for Robert so well
I did pop into your museum and saw the Wimpy then and actually spoke to an elderly gent who was in the original 30's design team
Ed
Posted by ed meddings | July 3, 2008 2:17 PM
Posted on July 3, 2008 14:17