Atkinson Borderer
The name ‘Borderer’ was dreamed up in May 1970 by the late Frank Whalley who was the publicity manager for Atkinson Vehicles.
It was one of six names used by the company to identify the different models being built at the time.
The range consisted of tractor units ‘Borderer’ (4×2) and ‘Venturer’ (6×4), two-axle chassis ‘Raider’, three-axle ‘Searcher’ and the four-axle ‘Defender’.
The new model for this generation being the twin steer tractor unit ‘Leader’ (6×2).
In 2009 late Tom Riding recalled…….
“Personally i never used the name ‘Borderer’ always referring to them as Mark I and Mark II Atkinson tractor unit’s”.
It was also in 1970 that Oldham-based Seddon took over the struggling Atkinson company which was based at Walton le Dale near Preston.
This resulted in the merger of two of the largest companies in British truck manufacturing with the reformed Seddon Atkinson company later receiving substantial backing from the American ‘International Harvester’ in the mutually beneficial takeover in 1974
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No GTD 930K Fleet No 80 ‘Alert’ was one of the first brand new Atkinson Borderer’s to enter service with the Riding fleet on the 1st of August 1971 at a cost of £4,912.51p plus vat.
Driven from new by long time serving Riding’s driver Paul Smith it is pictured above on the Atkinson Vehicles stand at the 1971 Royal Lancashire Show shortly before entering service with the fleet.
After seven years service with Riding’s GTD 930K was sold on to local dealer Syd Hartley in July 1978 for £500 plus vat who in turn sold it on to a fairground operator who then ran it for a further 11 years as can be in ‘Life After Riding’s’.
Driven from new by long time serving Riding’s driver Paul Smith a colour shot of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No GTD 930K Fleet No 80 ‘Alert’ which was one of the first brand new Atkinson Borderer’s to enter service with the Riding fleet on the 1st of August 1971 at a cost of £4,912.51p plus vat.
After seven years service with Riding’s GTD 930K was sold on to local dealer Syd Hartley in July 1978 for £500 plus vat who in turn sold it on to a fairground operator who then ran it for a further 11 years as can be in ‘Life after Riding’s’
Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No HTD 470K Fleet No 27 ‘Competent’ (Chassis No FC20532) was purchased new by Riding’s on the 28th of July 1971 at a cost of £4,802 but was not registered until the 1st of September 1971.
Powered by a Gardner 180 and driven from new by Bill Coolican it is pictured here in 1977 when six years old.
It is seen here taking part in the annual Longridge Field Day parade hauling a float on behalf of the ‘Forresters Somnambulistic Dipsomaniacs’, try pronouncing that after you have had a couple of pints!
After being in service with Riding’s for nine years it was sold on the 27th November 1980 to a Mr Joseph Bateson of 27 Bankhead Lane Preston for £700 plus vat.
Photograph courtesy of Jack Draper.
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No HTD 470K Fleet No 27 ‘Competent’ which was purchased new by Riding’s on the 28th of July 1971 at a cost of £4,802 but was not registered until the 1st of September 1971.
A final shot of Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No HTD 470K Fleet No 27 ‘Competent’ as it stands in the depot at Longridge alongside rebuilt Leyland Beaver Reg No 880 FTF which had been originally built by Leyland Motors as a Leyland Steer back in 1958.
Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No JTC 960K Fleet No 10 ‘Kidwelly’.
This was a typical Riding tractor unit of the time powered by a Gardner 180 engine in line with a David brown 6 speed gearbox and Kirkstall rear axle.
Purchased new by Riding’s on the 23rd of August 1971, at a cost of £4,802.60p, it was not registered until the 1st of November 1971 when it was then driven from new by the late Richard Walton who was a lifetime Riding’s driver.
It is pictured above while heading down Archway Road London in October 1972 but unfortunately just under two years later, on the 25th of July 1974 while parked overnight in Larne harbour, JTC 960K was detached from its tank trailer, stolen and was never to be seen again.
Photograph courtesy of Edward J Beazley.
After four and a half years in the Riding fleet it was sold on to Norman Billington of Heysham for £1,450 plus vat on the 13th of July 1979.
It is seen here the following year in 1980 while heading South down the M6 Motorway in Staffordshire.
Note the red rear mudguard, a legacy from its time north of the border with ‘Monklands Transport’.
The accident resulted in the cab being being very badly damaged but as the engine, chassis and drive train were undamaged the late Tom Riding had it rebuilt in October 1976 at Longridge converting it to a sleeper cab at the same time.
After eight years service PTB 520K was eventually sold on in 1980 to local dealer Syd Hartley for £1,100 plus vat.
Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No PTC 440K Fleet No 8 ‘Faithful’ was purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 17th of June 1972 at a cost of £5,625. 59p and first registered two weeks later on the 1st of July.
Powered by a Gardner 180 engine, and driven from new by Rex Rich, this particular tractor unit was in the Riding fleet for over 20 years.
During that time it became one of the company’s shunt vehicles and after having a spell at the H. J. Heinz factory at Kitt Green Wigan it returned to Longridge where it was utilised to take trailers for their annual MOT test at Kirkham as can be seen in the picture below.
After serving W & J Riding for over 20 years this particular tractor unit was fortunately saved from the blow torch and fully restored.
PTC 440K is now in preservation and can be seen at various rallies across the country as can be seen here.
1972 registered Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No PTC 440K Fleet No 8 ‘Faithful’ is seen here towards the end of it’s working life at Riding’s while being utilised as the yard shunter.
Powered by a Gardner 180 engine it is pictured parked up in the depot at Longridge on the 29th of August 1993, when 21 years old.
Fortunately PTC 440K was later saved for preservation.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
Atkinson Borderer Reg No PSX 80K Fleet No No 61 ‘Swiftsure’ (Chassis No FC25178) was one of the ten Atkinson Borderer tractor units that the late Tom Riding purchased from Monkland Motors in 1975, with this one costing £2,600, when they decided to close down, having been originally new to Russell of Bathgate in September 1971.
Originally powered by a Cummins engine, which was replaced with a Gardner 6LXB shortly after joining the Riding fleet, it was the only Borderer Riding’s had with a two speed axle and is seen here in August 1976 a month before it was fitted with one of Riding’s trade mark in-house sleeper cab extensions, at a cost of £356.
In 1979 after six years in the fleet it was finally sold on to local dealer Syd Hartley on the 14tn of November for the sum of £600
An on the road shot taken in 1977 of Atkinson Borderer Reg No PSX 80K Fleet No No 61 ‘Swiftsure’ seen heading down the main street of Skipton in the days before the by-pass .
Loaded with double deck pallets of Alkathene from Wilton this unit was one of the ten that the late Tom Riding purchased from Monkland Motors when they decided to close down in 1975, having originally been new to Russell of Bathgate in September 1971.
In September 1976 it had been fitted with a Riding’s trade mark in-house sleeper cab extension at a cost of £356.
Originally powered by a Cummins engine, which was replaced with a Gardner 6LXB shortly after joining the Riding fleet, it was the only Borderer Riding’s had with a two speed axle.
It was used for a considerable time on inter factory stock movements between the ICI Hillhouse works at Blackpool and Welwyn Garden, with the high gearing good for the fuel figures.
In 1979 after six years in the fleet it was finally sold on to local dealer Syd Hartley on the 14tn of November for the sum of £600
Photograph courtesy of the late Colin Wright.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No KTE 350K Fleet No 16 ‘Unbowed’ (Chassis No FC 20535) was purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 11th of November 1971 at a cost of £4,887 but due to a slight downturn in business at the time was not registered for road use until the 1st of January 1972.
Powered by a Gardner 6LXB 180 engine it was driven from new by David Hodgson and is pictured here while parked in Riding’s original North East depot at South Bank Middlesbrough.
After eight years service with Riding’s KTE 350K was sold on to Brewer & Turnbull Ltd of Progress Mill Orders Lane Kirkham near Preston for the sum of £2,000 on the 12th of February 1980.
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No KTE 350K Fleet No 16 ‘Unbowed’ (Chassis No FC20535) which was purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 11th of November 1971 at a cost of £4,887 and was first registered for road use on the 1st of January 1972.
Powered by a Gardner 180 engine it was driven from new by David Hodgson and is pictured here parked overnight in Skipton while coupled to a tandem axle flat trailer loaded with steel colliery arches from the North East.
By this time in it’s life it had received a new roof as can be seen by the lack of a cut out in the headboard for the drivers windscreen wiper arm.
After eight years service KTE 350K was sold on to Brewer & Turnbull Ltd Progress Mill Orders Lane Kirkham near Preston for the sum of £2,000 on the 12th of February 1980.
Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No GTC 30K Fleet No 79 ‘Vigilant (Chassis No FC 20529)’ was purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 26th of May 1971 at a cost of £5395.52p but was not registered until two months later on the 1st of August 1971.
Driven from new by Ted Woods it was powered by a Gardner 6LXB 180 engine and is pictured here in later years when driven by outbased driver Vinny Chambers while parked up in his home town of Keighley West Yorkshire.
It spent its first four years of service coupled to a Crane Fruehauf powder tank after which time it was relegated to the general haulage fleet and is seen here coupled up to a tandem axle Municipal coil carrier.
After just over eight years service GTC 30K was sold on to Brewer & Turnbull Ltd Progress Mill Orders Lane Kirkham near Preston for the sum of £2,000 on the 12th of February 1980 along with Reg No KTE 350K for the same sum of £2,000..
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No GTC 30K Fleet No 79 ‘Vigilant’.
Pictured here at the ICI plant at Wilton on Teesside in 1976 driver Neil Jackson has just loaded up with 20 one tonne bags of Terephthalic Acid which, after being sheeted and roped, were destined for Liverpool Docks.
Photograph courtesy of driver Mick McKay who was also at Wilton that day loading up.
Atkinson Borderer Reg No STD 240L Fleet No 14 ‘Adventurous’ (Chassis No FC 20647) was purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 22nd of June 1972 at a cost of £5,182.
Powered by a Gardner 180 engine in line with a David Brown gearbox and Kirkstall BDR axle it was not registered until almost three months later on the 1st of September 1972 and you will notice it is fitted with a step ring on the front wheel hub for helping with entry to the cab which was quite a rare thing on Riding’s Borderers.
In November 1976 it was fitted with one of Riding’s own in house sleeper cab conversions and remained in the fleet a further five years until it was broken up and scrapped in February 1981.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No STE 830L Fleet No 11 ‘Persistent’ was a brand new purchase from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 6th of June 1972 at a cost of £5,621
Powered by a Gardner 6LXB 180 engine it was first registered for road use on the 18th of September 1972.
It is seen here passing through the town centre of Skipton in North Yorkshire on the A6069 about to turn right on to Swadford Street in the days before the by-pass while hauling a trailer loaded with steel back to Longridge depot.
After 10 years service it was sold on to R&R Bardsley of Stalybridge on the 27th of January 1982 for the sum of £1,250.
Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No TTC 490L Fleet No 19 ‘Sprited’ (Chassis No FC21257) was purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 16th of August 1972 at a cost of £5,182 but was not registered until the 6th of October 1972.
After nine years in the fleet TTC 490L was sold to John Killingbeck of Blackburn on the 7th of September 1981 for the sum of £1,000.
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No TTC 490L Fleet No 19 ‘Sprited’ seen here while discharging it’s load at James Hallstead’s factory at Whitefield near Manchester.
Riding’s operated quite a number of these tipping skeletal trailers which were fitted with rotary feeders at the rear for discharging plastic powder and pellets from these 30 foot containers.
Originally new in 1969 Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No PTE 630L Fleet No 67 ‘Champion’ was re-registered on the 1st of January 1973.
It started out in life as the ill fated Atkinson Mk II Reg No RTJ 570G in which driver Kenneth Wilson sadly died on the A75 near Kirkcowan in Scotland in 1972.
Powered by a Gardner 180 engine in line with a David Brown gearbox and Kirkstall BDR axle it was allocated to Tommy Lambert after it emerged from its total rebuild in the company’s workshops in Longridge in 1973.
After the in house rebuild at Longridge Tom Riding decided that the best thing to do would be to re-register the vehicle as Reg No PTE 630L, so as to get away from its past history.
After eleven years service It was finally sold on to Whitehead Transport of Padiham near Burnley in January 1978 for £700 plus vat who ran it for a further six years until April 1984.
Powered by a Gardner 180 engine in line with a David Brown gearbox and Kirkstall BDR axle after it emerged from its total rebuild in the company’s workshops it was allocated to Tommy Lambert and is pictured here on the Sowarth Field Industrial Estate in Settle after loading up along with another Riding’s Atkinson Borderer parked behind.
Purchased new on the 29th of March 1973 at a cost of £5,322.48p Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No XTF 970L Fleet No 29 ‘Masterful’ (Chassis No FC 25566) was powered by Gardner 180 engine and was originally a day cab.
This was one of six tractor units fitted with the Gardner 180 engine and plated at 32 tons GVW with all subsequent tractor units fitted with either the 8 cylinder Gardner or the Cummins to comply with the 6 BHP per ton legislation.
Originally assigned from new to the tanker fleet it is seen here in the later stage of its life when it has been relegated to general haulage fleet with it’s blowing and tipping gear removed.
Pictured above coupled up to one of the company’s 40 foot tandem axle trailer’s with a neatly sheeted and roped load on board it had also by this time been fitted with one of Riding’s in house sleeper cab conversions.
After eight years service XTF 970L was eventually sold on to a Mr J. McGarrie of New Longton Preston for £1,000 plus vat on the 28th of September 1981.
Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No MVD 432L Fleet No 21 ‘Courageous’ (Chassis No FC 25673) was powered by a Cummins 220 engine in line with a Fuller 610 gearbox and group axle.
Originally registered new to Transport Development Group Ltd member ‘Monkland Motors’ of Airdrie on the 1st of May 1973 it was in March 1975 that Tom Riding travelled up to Scotland and bought all ten Atkinson Borderer’s that they had been operating after TDG Ltd decided to close the company down.
After life at Riding’s MVD 432L was sold on to John Killingbeck of Blackburn were Dr John worked his magic transforming it into this 6×2 tractor unit seen here>>>
After the rebuild it was called an ‘Atkinson Buccaneer’, the name being chosen by life long Atkinson lorry fan the late Michael Deuchars of Edinburgh who sadly passed away on the 17th of July 2013.
Photograph courtesy of Geoff Milne.
A nice on the road shot of Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No MVD 432L Fleet No 21 ‘Courageous’.
Powered by a Cummins 220 engine in line with a Fuller 610 gearbox and group axle it is pictured here in 1979 heading North on the M50 at the junction with the A417.
After unloading steel plate in South Wales from Motherwell it had collected a return load of 20 tons of bagged fertilizer from a plant at Avonmouth near Bristol.
This work was done of behalf behalf of W.H. Holmes of Garstang for delivery to their storage facility at Winmarleigh in Lancashire which was quite a regular job for Riding’s at the time.
W..H. Holmes later became Safeguard Storage who themselves were eventually taken over by TDG Ltd.
Photograph courtesy of Paul C Gee
Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No MVD 513L Fleet No 60 ‘Inflexible’ (Chassis No FC 25772) was another of the ten Atkinson tractor unit’s that Tom Riding purchased second hand from ‘Monkland Motors’ of Airdrie in Scotland.
Registered new on the 7th of May 1973 it had the standard Atki specification of the time ie Cummins 220 engine in line with a Fuller 610 gearbox and group axle.
As this particular one was newer than the others, being on an L plate, it cost £4,090 in March 1975.
Along with the nine other Atkinson’s purchased from ‘Monkland Motors’ it was later fitted with an in house sleeper cab.
In November 1980 MVD 513L was sold on to Tom Riding’s brother in law L J Ball of Dutton for £1,600 plus vat and repainted it in his yellow and grey livery at cost in Riding’s paint shop.
After being in service with L J Ball it was sold to John Killingbeck of Blackburn who broke it up and used it for spares.
Photograph courtesy of the Geoff Milne.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No XTB 850L Fleet No 18 ‘Leviathan’ (Chassis No FC 25295) was the first Borderer fitted with a Gardner 8LXB 240 engine in line with a David Brown 8-speed range-change gearbox to enter service with Riding’s in 1973.
Costing £6,095.47p the photograph above was staged for Atkinson publicity purposes with XTB 850L being driven at the time by Ronnie Joyce who was employed by Atkinson to do all their demonstration driving.
When joining the fleet it was driven from new by Tony Freeman who spent most of his career with W & J Riding eventually finishing up as shift foreman.
Pictured above coupled to one of Riding’s ‘Bulk Haulage’ powder tankers XTB 850L never actually pulled tankers during it’s working life as it was assigned to the general haulage fleet and as regards the unusual large chrome bumper it was soon replaced with one of Riding’s standard sized chrome bumpers.
Another Atkinson publicity shot of Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No XTB 850L Fleet No 18 ‘Leviathan’ (Chassis No FC25295).
Powered by an eight cylinder Gardner 8LXB 240 engine, in line with a David Brown 8-speed range-change gearbox, it was a brand new addition to the W &J Riding fleet in 1973 at cost of £6,095 47p.
On entering service XTB 850L was driven from new by Tony Freeman who spent most of his career with W & J Riding eventually finishing up as shift foreman.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No XTB 850L Fleet No 18 ‘Leviathan’ is seen here in 1974 while taking part in the annual Lorry Driver of the Year competition which took place outside the old Town Hall on Queens Terrace in Fleetwood, which today is Fleetwood Museum.
It is coupled to an empty 35 foot tandem axle Municipal coil carrier which was one of about thirty that Riding’s operated at that time.
Day cabbed Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No RTJ 640M Fleet No 4 ‘Unapproachable’ (Chassis No FC 26103) was powered by a Gardner 240 engine in line with an eight speed range change David Brown gearbox and Kirkstall D85 hub reduction axle.
Registered new by Riding’s on the 1st of December 1973 at a cost of £7,665.50p plus vat it was driven from new by Ted Bamber and spent its life running daily between Lancashire and the North East.
In 1976, when three years old, it was fitted with an in house sleeper cab as can be seen in the picture below and also has a step ring on the wheel hub to make entry to the cab easier, which was quite a rare thing on Riding’s Borderers.
In June 1983, after ten years service, RTJ 640M was withdrawn broken up and scrapped but it is more than likely that, today, the reliable Gardner engine is still powering a junk somewhere in Hong Kong harbour.
Photograph courtesy of Geoff Milne.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No STF 852M Fleet No 71 ‘Patriot’ (Chassis No 26869) was originally new to Ferrymasters (Ireland) Limited, on the 8th of January 1974, as can be seen in this photograph on the right.
It was purchased by Riding’s second hand when three years old through one of Tom Riding’s local dealers R J & I Wells of Great Ecclestone along with the three other tractor units, listed below, on the 31st of January 1977 with each one costing £4,550 plus VAT.
The other three being………..
Reg No STF 852M remained in the fleet for five years until January 1982 when it was sold on to Norman Billington of Heysham for the sum of £1,300 plus VAT
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No UTB 706M Fleet No 53 ‘Iron Duke’ (Chassis No 27040) was originally new to Ferrymasters (Ireland) Limited on the 18th of March 1974 with Ferrymasters becoming Pandoro the following year in February 1975.
Pictured hauling a 33 foot crane Fruehauf trailer loaded with plasbins it was powered by a Cummins 220 engine in line with a David Brown gearbox and the group axle which was the standard Ferrymasters set up at the time.
The late Tom Riding recalled….
“I purchased it second hand through my agent R J & I Wells on the 31st of January 1978 along with three others at a cost of £4,550 each plus vat.
Before joining the fleet we fitted it with an in house sleeper conversion but they would have been better units if they had been fitted with power steering”.
After being in service with Riding’s for four years UTB 706M was eventually sold on to Warren Jones of Kirkham on the 2nd of January 1982 for £1,050 plus vat.
UTB 706M is seen here after undergoing extensive restoration and painted in the livery of A Bradshaw & Sons it appeared at various rallies for a number of years but as of July 2020 it had fallen into a state of disrepair
Atkinson Borderer Reg No RWW 144M Fleet No 25 ‘Flamboyant’ (Chassis No 21041) was originally registered new on the 1st of April 1974.
Fitted with a Cummins 220 engine in line with a Fuller 610 gearbox it was supplied from Syd Hartley on the 31st of October 1975 at a cost of £3,600 plus vat.
It is seen here in the livery of Bailee Freight Services of Yarm to whom it was on hire from W & J Riding.
Bailee built up a good business and opened a depot at Heysham harbour to move fertiliser to Ireland with Riding’s also hiring them around 30 trailers at the time.
When Tom Riding asked the late Mr Ken Potts, a founding director of the company, what livery did he wish to display on the vehicles he immediately said the colors of Leeds United Football Club.
After the hire period RWW 144M returned to the Riding fleet, retaining the same fleet number and name, as can be seen in the picture below.
After coming off hire to Bailee Freight Services of Yarm Atkinson Borderer Reg No RWW 144M Fleet No 25 ‘Flamboyant’ (Chassis No 21041) was brought in to the workshop at Longridge, fitted with an in house sleeper cab and repainted back into the familiar Riding livery.
Assigned to the general haulage fleet it remained in service for a number of years until, on the 9th of June 1981, it was finally sold on to a Mr John Lowes of Newcastle on Tyne for the sum of £1,700 plus vat.
Photograph courtesy of Geoff Milne.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No OTF 550M Fleet No 81 ‘Robust’ (Chassis No FC 26280) was powered by a Cummins NHK 240 engine.
Purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 2nd of July 1973, at a cost of £6,906, it was not registered for road use until two months later on the 1st of September 1973.
After being in service with Riding’s for two years it was fitted with one of Riding’s own in house sleeper conversion kits.
After ten years service with W & J Riding OTF 550M was sold on to Fosters Commercials Ltd of Fylde Road Preston on the 4th of March 1983 for the sum of £1,175 plus vat who in turn sold it on to another local operator by the name of J. Canning of Leyland.
When Canning’s ceased trading OTF 550M later passed into the hands of Kevin Dennis and into preservation in Norfolk.
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No OTF 550M Fleet No 81 ‘Robust’ but would you believe that this is in fact a scale model.
Hand made by John Shepherd it took him over six months to complete and the fine detail is astounding.
A credit to you John and thanks for sending the picture.
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No RTB 130M Fleet No 84 ‘Resolute’ (Chassis No 26245) pictured here at North Canada Docks in Liverpool while waiting to unload.
After eight years in the fleet it was sold on the 26th of July 1981 to Billingtons Transport of Heysham for the sum of £1,450 plus vat but unfortunately at the very last minute the deal fell through as Billingtons ceased trading so it was sold on to a Mr A Robinson of Immingham for the same price the following month in August 1981.
Photograph courtesy of renowned lorry photographer Peter J Davies.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No PTJ 120M Fleet No 83 ‘Forceful’ (Chassis No FC 26016) was powered by a Gardner 240 eight cylinder engine in line with a David Brown eight speed gearbox and Kirkstall D 85 axle.
Registered new by Riding’s on the 1st of October 1973, at a cost of £7,660.50 plus vat, it is pictured here in the depot while loaded with forty gallon drums of Cereclor (chlorinated paraffin) from the ICI plant at Hillhouse.
Harry Dinsdale, who spent all his working life at W.J Riding, was its first driver and it was permanently assigned to the general haulage fleet.
After ten years service PTJ 120M was scrapped on the 31st of March 1983 and the engine was sold on to Hartwood Exports of Barnsley for £3,000 plus vat.
Photograph courtesy of the late Michael Deuchars.
The late Tom Riding is pictured above stood next to Atkinson Borderer Reg No OTJ 770M Fleet No 12 ‘Resourceful’ (Chassis No FC 26243) which was registered new on the 1st of September 1973 at a cost of £7,047.75. plus vat.
This tractor unit was one of a batch of seven Cummins powered Atkinson’s that Tom Riding bought when Gardner could not supply any eight cylinder engines at the time.
Powered by a 250 Cummins engine in line with a Fuller gearbox and D85 hub reduction Kirkstall rear axle it also had ZF power steering fitted.
It was driven from new by John Elliott who was eventually promoted to depot manager at Motherwell.
The late Tom Riding recalled…….
“I was in the yard one Saturday afternoon when the late Michael Deuchars who was taking some pictures asked if he could take one of me, always one to please, i happened to stand in front of OTJ 770M.
I later sold it on to a Mr T Taylor of Darwen on the 26th of February 1983 for £1,175 plus vat after it had been in service with us for almost 10 years”.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No PUH 698M Fleet No 69 ‘Paramount’ (Chassis No 27349) was powered by a Cummins 250 engine and was registered new on the 13th of November 1973.
The late Tom Riding recalled below….
“Bought second hand for £3,000 plus vat when three years old i remember at the time i took this photograph we had just fitted it with one of our sleeper cab conversion’s, and with a lovely straight nicely sheeted load i decided to take it for a run and take a photo or two.
Notice that in those days, unlike today, trailers had no mudguards or spray suppression equipment fitted”
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No PUH 698M Fleet No 69 ‘Paramount’ which was powered by a Cummins 250 engine.
Purchased second hand from R.J. & I Wells for £3,600 plus vat on the 8th of February 1977 it had been previously owned by a large local contractor, George Noblet Plant Ltd, who had bought it new in November 1973.
After joining the Riding fleet in 1977 it remained in service for four years until July 1981 after which time it was sold on to a Mr Taylor of Darwen for £650 plus vat.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No STF 710M Fleet No 50 ‘Glorious’ (Chassis No FC 27176).
This particular Atkinson Borderer was fitted with a Gardner 240 eight cylinder engine in line with a David Brown eight speed gearbox and Kirkstall D85 hub reduction axle.
Registered new by Riding’s on the 1st of January 1974, at a cost of £7,947 plus vat, it was driven from new by long serving Riding’s man Jack Moon.
The late Tom Riding recalled……..
“This was the first unit to be fitted with a sleeper cab extension by W H Fowler of Leyland.
You can just see the joining where they have extended the roof, so we thought we could do a better job in house using a new one piece roof and all subsequent conversions were done this way”.
After nine years service STF 710M was sold on to John Killingbeck of Blackburn on the 30th of June 1983 for £3,000 plus vat who used it for spares such as radiator, engine and gearbox.
Photograph courtesy of the late Michael Deuchars.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No TTB 90M Fleet No 22 ‘Industrious’ (Chassis No 26913) was purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 18th of December 1973 at a cost of £6,984 75p.
Not registered until the following year on the 1st of February 1974 this was one of a batch of seven Cummins powered Atkinson’s that Riding’s bought due to Gardner being unable to supply their popular eight cylinder engine at the time.
Tom Riding’s friend, the late Tom Bennett who was sales manager at the company, persuaded Tom into buying seven other 4×2 tractor units similar to this one.
All were fitted with Cummins 250 engines in line with David Brown 8 speed range change gearbox and the Kirkstall D 85 hub reduction axle with the only bit of foreign stuff on the vehicle being the ZF power steering.
They gave a very good account of themselves although one weakness was the inherent faults with the David Brown box.
In 1975 TTB 90M was taken into the workshops at Longridge and was fitted with one of Riding’s trade mark one piece roofed sleeper cab conversions.
Norman Holland drove TTB 90M from new and in later life it came to grief while he was negotiating the roundabout at the eastern end of the A59 Skipton by-pass in North Yorkshire.
After nine years service It was finally sold on to a Mr Taylor of Darwen for £1,575 plus vat on the 21st of February 1983.
More information in Accidents Happen 2
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No TTB 90M Fleet No 22 ‘Industrious’ (Chassis No 26913), seen here after receiving one of Riding’s in house sleeper cab conversions, while hauling a tandem axle curtain-sider trailer which was the sort of work it was normally assigned to.
Registered new on the 1st of February 1974 at a cost of £6,984 75p it was one of a batch of seven Cummins powered Atkinson’s that Riding’s bought due to Gardner being unable to supply their eight cylinder engine at the time.
Norman Holland, who lived in Darwen, drove TTB 90M from new and after nine years service it was finally sold on to a Mr Taylor of Darwen for £1,575 plus vat on the 21st of February 1983.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No TTB 810M Fleet No 85 ‘Superb’ (Chassis No FC 27212) was purchased new by W & J Riding direct from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 14th of January 1974 at a cost of £7,892 50p. and registered the following month on the 1st of February.
Powered by a Gardner eight cylinder engine, in line with an eight speed David Brown box and D85 Kirkstall hub reduction axle, it was driven from new by Bill Lambert and is seen here prior to washing off after returning to the depot in a filthy condition.
Note the AEC 90 gallon fuel tank that was fitted in Riding’s own workshops to increase the Atki’s range of travel.
On the 3rd of August 1983, after nine and a half years service with Riding’s, TTB 810M was sold on to John Killingbeck of Blackburn for £3,300 plus vat.
Photograph courtesy of the late Michael Deuchars.
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No TTB 810M Fleet No 85 ‘Superb’ (Chassis No 27212) seen here in a nice clean condition.
Registered new by Riding’s on the 1st of February 1974 at a cost of £7,892,50p plus vat it was driven from new by Bill Lambert.
On the 3rd of August 1983, after nine and a half years service with Riding’s, TTB 810M was sold on to John Killingbeck of Blackburn for £3,300 plus vat.
A side view of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No TTB 810M Fleet No 85 ‘Superb’ which was purchased new direct from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 14th of January 1974 at a cost of £7,892 50p. and registered the following month on the 1st of February.
Powered by a Gardner 240 eight cylinder engine, in line with an eight speed David Brown box and D85 Kirkstall hub reduction axle, it was driven from new by Bill Lambert
This side view clearly shows the famous one piece roofed sleeper cab conversion that Riding’s specialised in over the years with this particular one was fitted in August 1976 at cost of £326.
During the 1970’s Riding’s converted over 200 Atkinson Borderer cabs in their own workshops, not just to their own fleet, but other Atkinson Borderer operators at the time..
Also note the AEC 90 gallon fuel tank that was also fitted in Riding’s own workshops to increase the Atkinson’s range of travel.
On the 3rd of August 1983, after nine and a half years service in the Riding fleet, TTB 810M was sold on to John Killingbeck of Blackburn for £3,300 plus vat.
These two Atkinson Borderer’s were coming to the end of their working lives at W & J Riding when the picture was taken, probably in the late seventies – early eighties.
Reg No OTF 550M Fleet No 81 ‘Robust’ (Chassis No FC 26280) was new to Riding’s on the 2nd of July 1973 at a cost of £6,906 while Reg No STF 853M Fleet No 68 ‘Britannia’ (Chassis No 26870) was originally owned by Pandoro of Fleetwood and was purchased secondhand from Dick Wells on the 7th of November 1977 when it was three years old for £4,550 plus vat.
Both had received in-house sleeper conversions and being Cummins-powered would have been high on the disposals list.
OTF 550M was sold on to Fosters Commercials Ltd of Preston (J Canning) and later survived into the ownership of well-known preservationist Kevin Dennis.
STF 853M was sold on to Norman Billington’s of Heysham for the for the sum of £1,500 plus vat on the 7th of July 1981 but they ceased trading shortly before it was set to work.
Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No PTF 430M Fleet No 82 ‘Strenuous’ (Chassis No FC26244) is seen here heading down Bolckow Road in Grangetown near Middlesbrough after collecting a load of terylene from ICI Wilton.
Based at Riding’s Teesside depot PTF 430M was purchased new as a day cab from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 1st of September 1973 at a cost of £6941 but was not registered for road use until one month later on the 1st of October 1973 and in 1976 was given an in house sleeper cab conversion as can be seen in the photograph below.
Powered by a Cummins NH 240 engine it remained in service with Riding’s for nine years until October 1983 when it was withdrawn and scrapped.
A close up shot of Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No PTF 430M Fleet No 82 ‘Strenuous’ (Chassis No 26244) seen here in later years after receiving one of Riding’s own trade mark ‘one pieced roof’ in house sleeper cab conversions
Purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 1st of September 1973 at a cost of £6941 it was not registered for road use until one month later on the 1st of October 1973.
Based at Riding’s Teesside depot it is seen here during one of it’s stop overs in Longridge depot.
Powered by a Cummins NH 240 engine it remained in service with Riding’s for nine years until October 1983 when it was withdrawn and scrapped.
Atkinson Borderer Reg No STJ 670M Fleet No 70 ‘Dynamic’ (Chassis No FC26972) was powered by a Cummins 250 engine.
Purchased new on the 18th of December 1973, at a cost of £6,979, it was not registered until the following year on the 1st of February 1974.
Driven from new by Rodney Preston Cummins retro fitted this engine with a turbo charger to do extended mileage trials and eventually marketed this set up and called the engine the 240T.
On the right Atkinson Borderer Reg No HCK 800N Fleet No 87 ‘Supreme’ (Chassis No FC 28064) was powered by a Gardner 8LXB 240 bhp engine.
Purchased new on the 10th of November 1974, at a cost of £9,390, it was registered o the 1st of December and driven from new by Rex Rich another long term Riding’s man.
Both vehicles were fitted with David Brown 8 speed gearboxes and are seen here taking a break on the M6 Southwaite Service area in Cumbria while heading south from the Dalzell Steel works Motherwell plant loaded with the usual steel plates of which Riding’s moved large tonnages of at the time.
A colour shot of Atkinson Borderer Reg No STJ 670M Fleet No 70 ‘Dynamic (Chassis No FC 26972) pictured in the depot at Longridge.
Powered by a Cummins 250 engine this tractor unit was registered new to Riding’s on the 1st of February 1974 at a cost of £6,979.
Driven from new by Rodney Preston the Cummins engine was retro fitted with a turbo charger for extended mileage trials.and after these trials Cummins eventually marketed the engine as the 240T.
As for STJ 670M after nine years service it was broken up and scrapped on the 31st of March 1983.
Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No UTC 900M Fleet No 48 ‘Dominant’ (Chassis No FC 27320) was purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 7th of March 1974 at a cost of £8,051 plus vat and registered for road use on the 1st of April 1974.
This tractor unit was fitted with the legendary set up of a Gardner 8LXB 240 engine in line with a David Brown 8 speed gearbox and a Kirkstall D 85 rear axle.
During its life it was fitted with a sleeper cab extension in Riding’s own workshops and also fitted with a larger than standard fuel tank which was of AEC manufacture.
Originally allocated when new to the late Derek Finch it later spent a few years with driver Tommy Wearing who chased it up and down to the North East.
After nine years service UTC 900M was withdrawn on the 31st of March 1983 after which time it was broken up, scrapped and it’s Gardner 8LXB removed and sold on to Hartwood Exports for £2,450 plus vat.
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No UTC 900M Fleet No 48 ‘Dominant’ (Chassis No FC 27320).
Alan Dixon, who was driving it at the time, took this photo at Riding’s original old depot at Wishaw in Scotland where it is seen coupled to one of Riding’s standard forty foot tandem axle trailer’s loaded with steel slabs.
The photo must have been taken in the winter months as the chrome bumper is suitably covered in grease to prevent it rusting, a procedure the late Jim Riding used to do religiously every winter.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No VTE 720M Fleet No 51 ‘Superior’ (Chassis No FC 27430} is pictured here parked on the Southbound side of the old A74 opposite the old Coatsgate Cafe at Beattock in Scotland.
Seen here pulling a 30 foot skeletal trailer it was powered by a Gardner 240 8LXB eight cylinder engine, in line with a David Brown 8 speed gearbox and D 85 Kirkstall hub reduction axle.
Purchased new by Riding’s on the 18th of May 1974 at a cost of £8,051.50p plus vat it was registered on the 1st of June 1974 and based at Riding’s South Bank depot on Teesside.
Fitted with a compressor it was used mainly for powder tank deliveries on behalf of ICI Ltd with Jimmy Lever it’s original driver.
In April 1983, after nine years service, it was broken up and scrapped with it’s Gardner engine sold on to Hartwood Exports for £3,000 plus vat.
Photograph courtesy of the late Michael Deuchars.
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No VTE 720M Fleet No 51 ‘Superior’ while parked on the Southbound side of the A74 across the carriageway from the long gone Coatsgate Cafe which was located on the Northbound side of the A74 at Beattock in Scotland.
Photograph courtesy of the late Michael Deuchars.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No VTJ 480M Fleet No 2 ‘Heroic’ (Chassis No FC 27573) was purchased new by Riding’s on the 4th of June 1974 at a cost of £8,636.77p plus vat.
Powered by a Gardner 8LXB 240 engine in line with an eight speed David Brown gearbox and Kirkstall D85 axle it was driven from new by the late George Cavagan.
Out based at Penrith it was double shifted and used on Scottish traffic all its life.
On the 30th of June 1983, after nine years service, it was sold on to John Killingbeck of Blackburn for £3,500 plus vat.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No YTB 540N Fleet No 43 ‘Able’ (Chassis No FC 28387) was powered by a Gardner 180 engine in line with a David Brown six speed box and Kirkstall D85 hub reduction rear axle.
Purchased new by Riding’s from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 17th of August 1974, at a cost of £8,034 plus vat, it was driven from new by the late Richard Walton who spent all his working life driving for the company.
First registered on the 1st of September 1974 it is seen here coupled to a Crane Fruehauf 40 foot trailer but spent a great part of its life pulling a Crane Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot non tipping powder tank on the ICI Ltd PVC contract.
Notice the 90 gallon fuel tank, made by Jolleys of Preston, which enabled it to get to the South Coast and back with fuel to spare.
After 12 years service in the fleet YTB 540N was eventually sold as scrap with no engine to Translitre of Burton on Trent for £500 plus vat on the 21st of April 1986.
Photograph courtesy of the late Michael Deuchars.
A side shot of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No YTB 540N Fleet No 43 ‘Able’ giving a better view of the 90 gallon fuel tank manufactured by Jolleys of Preston which enabled it to get to the South Coast and back to Longridge depot with fuel to spare.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No YTC 980N Fleet No 6 ‘Eminent’ (Chassis No FC28388) was another brand new addition to the fleet in 1974.
Purchased brand new in day cab version from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on 20th of July 1974 at a cost of £8,134.33p plus vat it was later converted into a sleeper in Riding’s own workshops at a cost of £356.
Supplied with the usual spec at the time of a Gardner 180 engine in line with a six speed David Brown gear box and Kirkstall D 85 hub reduction rear axle it was driven from new by Arthur Luke it is seen here while discharging a 1450 cubic foot non tipping tank at the Welvic plant of ICI Ltd Hillhouse Works at Thornton Blackpool.
After nine years service YTC 980N was sold on the 23rd of July 1983 for £1,200 plus vat to W & G Taylor of Skipton.
The late Tom Riding recalled….
“It went on to be used with a tipping trailer, and knowing William as I did at the time, it would really start to work as never before”
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No YTC 980N Fleet No 6 ‘Eminent’ after having a sleeper cab fitted is seen here towards the end of it’s working life at Riding’s in 1982.
After being in service with Riding’s for nine years YTC 980N was sold on the 23rd of July 1983 for £1,200 plus vat to W & G Taylor of Skipton.
Atkinson Borderer’s as far as the eye can see!
This impressive line up of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor units are pictured parked up for the weekend around 1980 in the depot at Longridge.
These were the days when Riding’s immaculate fleet was dominated by the Atkinson marque, which were built locally just down the road at Walton-le-Dale near Preston.
Atkinson Borderer Reg No HCK 800N Fleet No 87 ‘Supreme’ (Chassis No FC 28064) was powered by a Gardner 8LXB 240 bhp engine.
Purchased new on the 18th of November 1974 at a cost of £9,390 and first registered on the 1st of December 1974 it was normally driven by Rex Rich who was a long term Riding’s man.
In this particular picture, taken towards the end of it’s working life, it is being driven by John White who appears to be larking about shown here sheeting up the tractor unit as well as the load.
The location is outside Heinz’s Kitt Green factory near Wigan where John had just loaded 20 tons canned goods.
In May 1983 after nine years in the fleet HCK 800N was withdrawn, broken up and scrapped.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No GRN 137N Fleet No 86 ‘Splendid’ (Chassis No FC 27847) was purchased new by Riding’s on the 17th of September 1974 at a cost of £9,415.21p plus vat but was not registered until two months later on the 1st of November 1974.
Powered by a Gardner 240 engine it unfortunately caught fire in August 1981 while climbing the long assent on the M62 between Junctions 21 and 22 near Rochdale.
The cause of the fire was due to sound insulation material dropping on to the hot exhaust manifold resulting in the vehicle being totally burnt out and warping the chassis.
Written off on the 21st of August 1981 it was totally rebuilt and emerged as Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No JTB 888P Fleet No 25 ‘Bright Star’ as can be seen in the picture below.
In 2017 and in his own words and in fine detail the late Tom Riding recalled the full story behind Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No JTB 888P Fleet No 25 ‘Bright Star’ ………..
“Originally our Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No GRN 137N Fleet No 86 ‘Splendid’ was purchased new by us on the 20th of September 1974 at a cost of £9,415.21p plus vat.
Powered by a Gardner 240 engine it unfortunately caught fire in 1981 while climbing the long assent on the M62 between Junctions 21 and 22 near Rochdale.
The fire was caused by sound insulation material dropping on to the hot exhaust manifold resulting in the vehicle being totally burnt out and warping the chassis.
To all intents and purposes it should have been scrapped except that the engine and running units only suffered superficial damage and were repairable.
I looked around and discovered that D & F Services of Bamber Bridge, who i had used for years, had in fact a rolling chassis, minus the cab, identical to the warped one i needed to replace.
This chassis turned out to be ex Suttons 4×2 tractor unit Reg No JTB 888P (Chassis No FC 28060) which had been registered new to Suttons on the 13th of November 1975 making it virtually one of the last Atkinson Borderer’s before the launch of the ‘400 Series’ hence the late ‘P’ registration plate.
I duly bought it complete with its logbook and using parts we had about us at Longridge, including a spare cab, it was rebuilt for a total of £3,765 and put back into service as Fleet No 25 named ‘Bright Star’.
After three years service with us i then sold it on to John Killingbeck of Blackburn for £3,000 plus vat in February 1984.
