The Classic Machinery Network

Sorry! No relation to Norman Dent

Dowsett Concrete Train on the M20, Wrotham in 1979

Cracking photo Denty,I did not work on that section .I was on on the Sellindge to Ashford section as a banksman on the earthmovers.Became the fitters mate on the concrete train and progressed to fitter on the next job at Wolviston A19 .Spent a winter at their Boroughbridge depot altering the train for a job at Gatwick Airport.Really brought back memories we used to start at 5am and finish at anytime to make sure it was ready next day.The Plant Manager used to say to us"I would rather you did nothing as it meant the train was working" great days, where did the years go with the lodge and bonus and the hours booked "I wont say worked" I did not realise how well off I was.
The photo looks like the front 1st compactor has stopped causing a tailback behind with the Dowel Bar,Tie bar and 2nd spreader.
Thanks a lot Denty a real trip down memory lane.

hi does anyone have any photos of the dowsett m1 rotherham sheffield section.

These photos bring back memories of when my father worked on the M20 wrotham section.After being laid off at the Howard Doris Loch Kishorn yard he was taken on by Dowsett to drive a JCB 3C and I remember after a few days on site came home saying that while going round the nepicar roundabout the front wheel and hub had flown off the machine,apparentley a common problem on the 3C when the hub bearings became worn.There was one fatality on this job when the Cat 988 was taken out by an inexperienced operator and rolled down an embankment near the Wrotham tv mast killing the driver.My father worked on this site until completion and was then moved to the M20 at Ashford to drive a 22RB.Dowsett had a mixture of Cat,Belaz (Belly Aches as they were nicknamed) dumptrucks and D series six wheelers.It was on this site that I first saw a JCB 110B loading shovel which was on hire from Brian Anderson and in the late 70s/early80s was a very modern looking machine compared to your Cats and Drotts

Hutch your father wasnt nicknamed Oddjob.

Hi Dowsett Boy

Fathers name was John (Jack ) Hutchison

When Dowsetts were building the M18 at Doncaster a motor scraper ran over a car at Warningtoung Lane .There was fatalaties here.Not a good day. If I remember it was on a Sunday morning .Dowsetts were bought out by an Arab company if I recall They also worked in malawi Africa this was around 1976/77 Ithink

Is this an R.M. Douglas Akerman?
Pic from circa 1992.

I think this is from the M42