Recently in docks and ports Category

Biglorryblog's 'Man North 'o' the Border' John Henderson has sent in this very strange picture and says: "Hello Brian, whilst Scotland is enjoying some fine settled weather at present, here's a reminder of winter floods North o' the Border, that would strike fear into the heart of any Health and Safety manager! Thankfully it's quite rare that Perth Harbour gets completely inundated by the adjacent River Tay (Scotland's largest watercourse) and this shot from the late 1980s, shows how important it is to remember where the quayside edge is!"

Perth Harbour John...? It looks more like Pearl Harbour! And never mind the edge you'd need a pair of waders just to get out the cab....

...now click through here for more and a pie quiz based on the above teaser..

Seems like the weather is rotten all over the place...not least in New Zealand -- this is as of 22:31 from the excellent webcam at the Axis International container terminal at the Port of Auckland.....I bet Rod is already tucked up nice and warm with a cup of cocoa....(assuming his latest nipper isn't keeping him awake!)

Here's a real blast from the past - Or pictures to show that nothing has changed... Anyroadup that loveable old curmudgeon 'The Boss' muses: "Brian, marvellous thing modern technology. It allows me to take my Petit Dejeuner [that's yer actual French for breakfast] in the South of France and read that day's British daily paper before most newsagents at home have even opened theirs! All sent by the wonders of modern science to a printers in Marseille and then delivered at great speed with that day's French newspapers, impressive stuff eh? Last week as many will know the French blockaded the Channel ports over fish quota's and as many may not know also supported some Irish fishermen being treated badly by their Government.

But the UK paper's headlines were. 'French fisherman blockade AGAIN'. How true! About 20 years ago waiting to load P&O Ferries out of Zeebrugge a blockade was in place AGAIN and we all had to wait. P&O employed the Belgian Red Cross to feed all us poor starving drivers and this is Liam Carroll's Dutch (I think) driver - a great guy - receiving his life-saving rations.

Quite an International shot don't you thinkl?." Yes and an old MAN 19.372 by the looks of it too reckons Biglorryblog. Now click through here for one of The Boss's beloved Yankee Clippers...

Now I thought it was long overdue that Biglorryblog paid a visit to the other side of the world and the wonderful Axis Intermodal webcams at the Port of Auckland to see what's been going on - and at the Fergusson grid-b webcam I find this line-up... Which begs the question... Is he getting into... Or out his truck? And for a pie name the three waggons! Now click through here to find out what he was doing...

Meanwhile, 11 hours away, (or is it 10? I never can remember) in New Zealand at the Axis Intermodal complex within the Port of Auckland they're all getting ready to go home--and who can blame them? Thank God it's Friday! There's not much happening on the wonderful Axis webcams---you can see this lot of the Fergusson Grid B waiting for the flag...

While on the Fergusson Grid A there's not much action either...although if you've got good eyesight you might be able to tell me what those trucks are lined up behind the barriers...for an early morning pie...or a late afternoon pie if you're down under!

Alex Saville has sent this to Biglorryblog in which will be sure to please the 'Brochure King'. "Brian, never mind the G -Wagons! How about the 'J' wagons? Guy Big 'J' operated by my old employer, Smith of Maddiston. This unit was driven by my friend and fellow Smiths driver, Dave Phillips, now retired to France, who supplied the photo. Dave drove the vehicle out of the Southampton Depot. A REAL lorry driver! Alex." 

It's raining in New Zealand.....! And how do I come by this piece of intelligence? Well naturally I've been visiting the Axis International webcam at the Ferguson Grid B site within the Port of Auckland. And you can see via this link.

And for a quick pie identify the rather damp trucks in the picture....take it away Rodders and Vic.

Now it's a well-known fact that Biglorryblog is partial to the odd dock-spotter and clearly things are going up in the world as witnessed by this lean, green and mean Terberg YT182 which comes with a Euro-5 Cummins ISBE engine. And in something of a BLB scoop click through here to read more about its gearbox options!

How about this for a page right out of trucking history? Anton de Hoop in Holland has very kindly sent me this picture. It seems Anton is a Biglorryblog reader but I believe this is the first time he's sent me a photo. Anyway Anton says: "Hello Brian, greetings from Holland. Here a pic of my Henschel in Felixstowe in 1976 and a Atkinson I think [you're correct with that Anton]. Maybe you can put it on Biglorryblog? I'll look to see if I have any more old pictures of lorries."

Well if they're anything like this one Anton they'll be sure to find a home on BLB. And maybe Richard 'The brochure King' Stanier has some material on Henschel as well? Compared with the Atki it looks a lot more driver-friendly (heresy I know Pete and Chris!)...

Surfing across my favourite worldwide truck webcams (the Finnish weather cams were rather disappointing tonight) I found this shot from the Fergusson 'grib b' webcam at the Axis Intermodal terminal at the Port of Auckland. Never mind the one in the background...what's the truck in the foreground? Clue: You don't see them around in the UK anymore (well hardly ever) although they WERE sold here in quite significant numbers as a fleet tractor....

Click through here for what I think it is...

In the same week that Biglorryblog noted that Kenworth was gearing up for hybrid truck production the US truck maker has now announced that it’s also “…expanding its presence in the growing market for environmentally friendly, liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles by beginning production of Kenworth T800 LNG trucks at its Renton assembly plant in 2009.” Under an exclusive agreement Kenworth will use Westport Innovation’s LNG fuel system technology adapted for Cummins' ISX 15-litre engine.

“The Kenworth T800, equipped with a Cummins ISX and Westport’s HPDI fuel system, offers an industry-leading solution with world-class low emissions while delivering outstanding horsepower, torque, and efficiency comparable to a diesel engine,” Bob Christensen, Kenworth’s general manager and PACCAR vice president tells BLB.

Interestingly enough the news of Kenworth’s LNG factory installation neatly coincides neatly with the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach announcement to approve a new $1.6 billion Clean Truck ‘Superfund’ which will assist in replacing many of the 16,800 Class 8 trucks (i.e. line-haul tractors) serving the ports with LNG-powered vehicles. Moreover, both ports have also introduced a new progressive ban that will remove all pre-2007 trucks by 2012. Westport’s LNG fuel system is the only alternative fuel technology currently qualified for financial support under the ports’ Clean Truck program.

Now click through here for more....

Having started the ball rolling on "super shunters" Biglorryblog is proud to bring you a couple more..including this Terberg YT182 I spotted at last year's NEC. This surely has to be better than an old time-expired waggon (even if it is an ERF or Foden!)

Now click through here for another one in baby blue and the other side of the Terberg...oh yes, and an grovelling apology to Tom Cunningham!

Consider if you will, suggests Biglorryblog, the humble dock spotter or yard shunter. Always the bridesmaid...never the blushing bride. Except on BLB of course where I offer you the very best of dock spotter and shunter snaps from T&D’s ace snapper Tom Cunningham and you can see more of his working life as a photographer on his excellent website

If I remember rightly Tom shot these for his client Continental Tyres and has put exactly the same amount of effort into getting a striking image as he normally does with a custom tractor. It's not about the bling..it's about the composition, the lighting, the desire to made a GOOD photograph.

Now click through here for another sexy shunter shot....