The other day Biglorryblog was deep in conversation with the old 'Crane King' himself, Ashley C and he was bemoaning the fact that he hadn't seen anything worth sending in to BLB---hence his absence from our pages lately. Now that's just tempting providence isn't it? Indeed, he's just sent these shots to me and the message: "Hi mate, What was I saying to you on the phone recently? Not seen much for a photo...Nothing out there...bit dull just lately...Well: I'm at the Truckstop at Junc 9 on the M1 and Phil Thompson pulls in with his very impressive ERF EC11!" And I'll second that says BLB. What a plastic fantastic beauty!
Ashley goes on: "So there we are, standing having a chat like you do and then blow me another ERF pulls in! 'What's this?' I say, 'An ERF convention?' Phil was grinning like a Cheshire Cat! 'There aren't that many older ones about nowadays' he replied. Phil's is a 1996 model and looks immaculate. He's thinking of buying a replacement and it will be another ERF. He knows of an Olympic version locally which he is seriously interested in."
Now click through here for more on Nuttalls' ERF wrecker.
Ashley continues:"The second one that pulled in looked (and sounded) pretty good too!2 It should do Ash, the badge on the front says it's got a 320hp 14-litre Hummin' Cummins in it! Anyway I'll let Ash finish the story" "We debated whether it was an old tractor which they'd stretched. I had to be a bit discreet though because the Nuttall wrecker had come along to tow home a 'newish' Scania 4-Series with some serious damage to the front corner and the driver didn't look to pleased to see my camera..... Oooops! Maybe a little embarrassing for him, being towed home on the end of an ERF!" Hey not a bit of it mate, it would be an honour to be towed in by that old-timer I reckon.
Ash concludes: "It just shows you though that the Brit's are still out there! Two classic ERFs in one day. Can't be bad? All the best---Crane King Cog!"
Nice ones Ash. Were you at the Total Petrol Station, Hanford, Stoke on Trent (A500 / A34) recently mate? Thought I saw an FM similar to your own at work there.
Hi richard. Nope wasnt me at Stoke. Far too far up north for me! Probably one of the Stafford depot trucks.