"Hi Brian," says Bob 'Mr Classic Truck' who's currently swanning around South Africa pretending to do some 'work'! "Just come in from taking a dip in the pool so thought you'd like a taster of the action Cape Town style that I saw this morning..." And fortunately the 'action' involves a truck rather than Bob resplendent in his Capt Webb swimming costuime..!
Bob continues: "I stopped beside the main road north from the container terminal and this battered International B train - is it - comes in for a chat with his boss. I get asked what I'm doing of course taking pictures and as soon as I mention Biglorryblog, then he gives me the thumbs up..." And why wouldn't he Bob?
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Bob gos on to say: "The boss tells me its a 410 Cummins with a Fuller 13-speed transmission but when I ask about the weight he says its 78-tonnes gross. I say this sounds a bit 'iffy' (no idea what the max is of course for this combo) but he laughs. He says we are only going about 150 clicks north and we go the back roads... Great stuff."
"Our views around Cape Town are dominated by Table Mountain in all its guises - thought you'd like a view of it last Saturday. Magic... Bob."
Sorry Bob, but that ain't no B-train. It is (unusually for South Africa) a good, old-fashioned A-train or double. And just for the record B-trains are known as 'interlinks' throughout Southern Africa. And if you want to see some truck action take a trip to Epping early in the morning when all the fruit and veg is coming in.
Bob,Bob,Now pay attention ! This is definately an
'A' Train.Two semis joined by a dolly.If it was a
B train then(because we are in South Afrika) it would have been an "Interlink".No pun intended with the primemover,or "Horse"(as we are in SA).
Enjoy your stay in Cape Town Bob,I certainly did when there in '98.The transport industry there is so interesting (not to mention the scenery of course).
Are you going to visit a place called Ceres at all?
It's upcountry a little from where you are.
Can give you a contact there of a chap running Volvos and Freightliners on produce haulage.
Rufo
Maximum legal weight in South Africa is 56 tonnes (gross). That truck (assuming the containers are not themselves overloaded) should have no problems coming in below 56 tonnes.
From what I remember reading, an Interlink can take a single 40' and a 20' legally (provided the containers are not overloaded).
I remember reading a story of a copper hauler from Zambia who was caught hauling 102 tonnes: 6x4 Nissan Diesel pulling a 3+3 Interlink combo!
Bob, I do believe you're wrong for once, if I'm allowed to say such a thing about Sir Bob!
It's an A-train, not a B-train (or B-double or interlink).
An A-train is a tractor unit with a semi-trailer towing a full trailer. In this case the full trailer is made up of a semi with a dolly added, but that doesn't alter things. In a B-train, the weight of the front of the rear semi rests upon a turntable on the rear of the front semi, not upon a dolly which is being towed.
Maybe the South African sun is getting to you, or maybe the South African wine or beer! Whatever, I hope you are both having a great holiday there.
Cheers, Vic
Sorry Guys - not used to the heat out here. But enjoying the sights. Off along the Garden Route for a week or so but not straying too far from Cape Town - sorry. More postcards to follow. Did I tell you it was hot out here - and more snow flurries for the UK. Great.