Robert Wynns of Newport.

[FOWLER MAN]

Hello,
I have vid memories of this companys operation, and decided to do some research. Ive come up with so much info. and pics, I don't know where to start.
I supose the beginning is a good place, so here goes. They started in Newport in 1863 when Thomas Wynn who worked for the railway saw the need for distribution from the rail network to the surrounding areas.
He set up business with horses and wagons to deliver goods in Newport and the surrounding areas. He soon saw the scope for heavy haulage and built a trailer for transporting boilers. They carried up to 40 tons pulled by up to 48 horses.
Thomas Wynn died in 1878 and his son 15 year old Robert Wynn took over. He turned to steam power in 1890 though they still used horses till 1948. A Sentinel steamer of theirs ploughed through the fence in front of my neighbours house one Sunday evening when I was a boy.
They ran a service between Newport and London using steam wagons but when the Road Traffic Act came in in 1930 with a 24 ton gross weight limit ,they were forced to buy Scammel 6 and 8 wheelers with the then new Gardner engines to make the service pay.

wynns-6-wheelers.jpg

Wynns are best remembered for the heavy haulage outfits pulled and pushed by Scammel and Diamond T tractors and particularly their Paciffic tractors.
They bought ten 1943 ex.American Army Paciffics for £400 each after the war 6 to rebuild and 4 for spares. these were armour plated gun tractors weighing over 20 tons.

pacific1.jpg

Rebuilding these went on till 1950 when the last one was completed. This one called Enterprise was fitted with a Cummins 320 ex. a Euclid dump truck and an 8 speed auto. transmission.

pacific2.jpg

I will resume the story again but in the meantime here are some pictures to go on with.

Fred[/attachment][/attachment]

020.JPG

019.JPG

img 100159.jpg

010.JPG

016.JPG

009.JPG

douglasa_edw92_gc_.jpg

[Jeremy Rowland]

Hi Fred, some nice pictures there there are some pictures that I have posted of the Douglas log tractor (your last photo) which was based on an AEC Matador in the trucks/lorrys thread. This still survives and belongs to S.E. Davis just a pity that some of the other trucks didn't survive.

Jeremy

[Ian Fletcher1970]

Hi Fred,
Did they operate the transformer moving outfit with air cushion connected to a compressor lorry towed at the rear ?

Ian

[XS650]

Nice pic of bonnetted Guy--weren't exactly common except as Husky models THey seemed to like Guys . The big Warrior cab must have been roomy with no engine in.

Husky%20Guy%20Warrior%20Truck.jpg

[FOWLER MAN]

Hi Jeremy and Craig,
Thanks for those replies.
The last of the PacificTractors, some Scammels and at least one Diamond T do survive.
The 1943 Pacific which was taken out of service in 1973 was rescued from a Hampshire scrap yard. Here is a photo. of it and one of the Scammels taken fairly recently at a Llandudno Festival.

028.JPG

026.JPG

Yes Craig, I think Wynns were the first to opperate the air cushion trailer to take a 155 ton load over a bridge in 1969. The system was developed by "British Hovercraft".
Here are a few photos of Wynns at work.
Fred

001 (2).JPG

002 (2).JPG

033.JPG

[gah1950]

hello fred.
i can remember that air cushion trailer being used when wynns took a heavy transformer into llanfabon cegb site back in the late sixties.it was accompanied by a commer lorry behind with a big flexi hose attatched to the trailer,i know of two locations on the old a470 near nantgarw where it had to be used .
graham.

[chainmaker]

hi fred
just found pics of a scrap yard full of old trucks and plant including some pacific dragon waggons the type used by wynns trying to get permission of copywright holder to post them.

[FOWLER MAN]

Hi All,
Here's a link to a vid. of a procession of Wynns vehicles at their centenery parade in Newport on 1963.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UckW4EBwY0
Fred

[Jim M]

I am currently working with a bloke who is Ex Wynns, he said he was on the Diamond T's etc . His name is Roy Willmer and has some stories to tell.

[martyn williams]

Always a Wynns truck at Abergavenny show.Will find some photos
Martyn