Hello again everyone,
I can remember in the late 60s staying over my Gran & Gramps out in the country area near Aberdare, South Wales.
They lived middle of the coal route of the Wimpeys Bryn Pica o.c.c.s.I used to sit for hours out on the layby by their farm and watch the constant flow of Wimpeys orange AEC mammoth Minor 6x4 lorries going back and forth to site.I can also remember contractor Harfords Foden 8 x 4 tippers on hire on occasions to the same site.
The AECs I remember used to use super single tyres on the rear in them days.(I think I am correct in calling the 6 wheeler AEC the minor and not the major)
My father used to take me to site some days as he was a chargehand fitter for Wimpey over the Terex R50s and I can remember Wimpey had their own transport shop,when it was time they used to strip their road lorries down to the bare chassis and completely over-haul them from the ground up.They would have their chassis sprayed silver and the cab and tipper sprayed orange.A sign writer would come in then and complete the job with the company name.They carried out this work method into the 90s I remember.
Over the years I saw the Wimpey coal lorries,still 6x4s upgrade to Leyland Bisons,then they started buying Maguirus Deutz because of their excellent ability to pull out of boggy site conditions.
These are some of the sites I remember Wimpey using their own coal lorries on.
Maesgwyn Cap,Maes-Marchog,Onllwyn,Bryn Pica,Bryn David,Drym,Tredeg,Ffos Las.
Maesgwyn Cap was a site that operated for Wimpey for over 30 years,this is where the Ransomes & Rapier W1800 walking dragline worked for most of its life.She was known affectionately as the Silver Queen.
I hope this is of some interest to you,
Regards,
Mark.