Martin Phippard says: "My you have been busy today! No rest for the wicked, eh? Any road up, knowing your penchant for Western Stars, I thought I would attach these three beauties taken from the Western Star (South Africa) site. The road trains appear to be those operating in the Richards Bay area hauling black sand that contains valuable elements such as Zircon. I think the company is called RBM and they were using Mercedes SKs last time I saw them a decade ago."
And take a look at the sping-loaded trailer covers...
..Martin says: "BTW I'm afraid I can't help with the name on the Western Star photographed by Road Rat. It could be something supplied by the dealer or maybe it's a new version of the Stratosphere sleeper. Anyone out there know for sure?" Noe click through for a cracking old timer from the archives of ''The Keeper of the Flame.'
Martin continues: "I also found this totally unrelated photo of a really superb FIAT 690 twin-steer tractor and 'fridge semi trailer. I don't know who took the picture but 'thank you' anyway. Talk about a class outfit complete with sleeper, RHD and a big white steering wheel! I reckon an air dam wouldn't have done any harm either.Salutations! Martin."
That trailer looks interesting too MP!
Quite the handsome Fiat Tony .. that old fridge looks like a self steer tracking deal with a spread like that Ohh the good old days..
Cheers
Ray Jay
Nice, that Western Star roadtrain in SA!
Regarding the Fiat. It is a 690T1 model and I shot it in Barcelona,SP in the spring of 1975!
regards
Niels
The Western Star rigs are operated by a company called Unitrans (used to be the United Transport South African subsidiary). The customer is RBM (Richards bay Minerals) and the load carried has is a heavy mineral concentrate with an SG of about 2500 kgs/cu metre.
The current rigs are operating at a gross mass (weight of between 150 - 160 metric tons, with a lead distance of 20 to 30 kilometres according to the loading site.
The trailers were originally an Australian design, though the telescopic cover is developed an manufactured in South Africa because the trailers load one side and tip on the other side, so a convential rolling tilt was not practical.
I know all the above because I used to work with Unitrans during the development of the current rigs, (and previous rigs using Mercedes 2644 tractor units).
Niels, I should have known it was one of yours! It looked good enough to be a Fiat PR photo but there was no information on the reverse side to give me a clue. Anyway thanks again for the superb picture and I hope you will forgive me for not giving you credit initially.