Atkinson Mark I
Prior to 1965 W & J Riding were operating at 24 tons gross vehicle weight.
The unladen weight of the L.A.D. Leyland’s was to great and the cab was prone to severe corrosion.
Riding’s had the first 600 engined tilt cab Leyland Beaver in 1965 but they could never obtain them in sufficient quantity to fulfill their requirements.
So W & J Riding decided to choose Atkinson to take over as the major supplier, rugged chassis, legendary Gardner engines, David Brown gearboxes, Kirkstall axles and a cab that could be rebuilt over a weekend.
Often described as a gaffer’s motor, which was exactly right, they were built locally just up the road at Walton-le-Dale near Preston.
This was quite handy as Tom Riding would often nip down to the factory to see how things were going with the numerous vehicles they had on order.
1963 was a defining year as the very first Atkinson built 4×2 tractor unit enters service with W & J Riding.
Atkinson Silver Knight Mk I 4×2 tractor unit Reg No 6520 TF Fleet No 29 was powered by a Gardner 6LX 150 engine.
With an 8 foot 9 inch wheelbase, an unladen weight of 4 tons 12 cwt and baring chassis No FC 9065, it was purchased direct from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 25th of April 1963 at a cost of £2,926 14s and was registered for road use on the 1st of May 1963.
Seen here when brand new coupled to a tandem axle Boden trailer it is loaded with empty plas bins destined for the ICI Wilton works.
The late Tom Riding recalled…..
“This was the very first Atkinson tractor unit in our fleet and the low unladen weight was a major factor influencing this choice of tractor unit at the time.
I call the photograph ‘A step into the unknown’ but we needn’t have worried as the rest, as we all know, is history”.
After 10 years service in the Riding fleet 6520 TF was sold on to a Mr R Jeffries of Otley on the 2nd of March 1973 for the sum of £900.
A close up shot of W & J Riding’s first Atkinson Silver Knight Mk I 4×2 tractor unit Reg No 6520 TF Fleet No 29 bought new by Riding’s on the 25th of April 1963.
Seen here with driver Tommy Lambert on the wash it is shown in the ‘interim’ livery which sported quasi-roundels on the doors which gave way to the grey over Oxford Blue sometime later.
Until 1967, when the Gardner 6LXB 180 was launched, all Riding’s Silver Knights were supplied with 6LX 150’s and were all subsequently up rated to 180 bhp power plants.
A very rare colour shot of Riding’s first Atkinson Silver Knight Mk I 4×2 tractor unit Reg No 6520 TF Fleet No 29.
Pictured here when seven years old in 1971, while parked in Longridge depot, it now sports Riding’s updated livery.
Two years later on the 2nd of March 1973 it was sold on to R. Jefferies of Otley for the sum of £900 after being in service with Ridings for 10 years.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No ATB 150A Fleet No 15 (Chassis No FC 9100) was purchased new by Riding’s on the 6th of September 1963 at a cost of £2,935 19s 5d and registered on the 1st of October 1963.
The late Tom Riding recalled……..
“This was the second Atki Mk I 4×2 tractor to join our fleet and had the classic drive-line of the day, a magnificent Gardner 150 6LX engine in line with a David Brown 6 speed box and Kirkstall BDR rear axle.
Seen here when new in 1964, with a superb paint job by the late George Edmundson, Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No ETC 920B Fleet No 12 (Chassis No FC 10536) was originally powered by a Gardner 6LX 150 engine in line with a David Brown 6 speed gearbox.
Purchased new by Riding’s on the 9th of April 1964 it cost the princely sum of £2,997 5s and was registered a week later on the 17th of April 1964.
The late Tom Riding recalled below……
“This was the third Atkinson Mk I 4×2 tractor unit that we bought so I decided to utilise it on a hard job and put it on the Darlington change over which resulted in the vehicle being loaded at 32 tons gross at all times as, fortunately for our business, in 1964 the maximum gross weight of an artic was raised from 24 to 32 tons on 4 axles,
It ran perfectly for 394000 miles at which time it burnt a tip off an injector.
By this time as the engine was worn so we removed it from the chassis and rebuilt it as a Gardner 6LXB 180.
Lawrence Lambert was its day driver and Ron Rich, who later formed his own powder tanker company, was its night man.
After being in our fleet for over nine years ETC 920B was eventually sold on to B. McGowan of Preston on the 24th of August 1973 for £875 plus 10% vat.”
This scanned 35mm slide is courtesy of the late Herbert Thomas Forrest, son in law of the late Jim Riding.
Seen here in later years is another shot of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No ETC 920B Fleet No 12 (Chassis No FC 10536) which was originally powered by a Gardner 6LX 150 engine in line with a David Brown 6 speed gearbox.
Purchased new by Riding’s on the 9th of April 1964 at a cost of £2,997 5s it was registered a week later on the 17th of April 1964.
After being in service for over nine years ETC 920B was eventually sold on to B. McGowan of Preston on the 24th of August 1973 for £875 plus 10% vat.
Note the brand new Crane Fruehauf powder tank in the background.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg MTD 160C Fleet No 6 (Chassis No FC 11890) was powered by a Gardner 6LX 150 engine in line with a 6 speed David Brown box and Kirkstall axle.
Purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 24th of March 1965 at a cost £3,303 33d it was registered on the 1st of April 1965.
This was the fourth brand new Atkinson to enter service with Riding’s and had a 9’6” wheelbase and the first one to have a twin headlight cab.
Pictured above, while parked on the fuel pumps at Longridge in 1967, it is loaded with 20 tons of Corvic from ICI Hillhouse for delivery to AEI at Birtley after just undergoing a complete overhaul and hand painted in the updated livery by the late George Edmundson.
After nine years service it was finally sold on to Scott’s Transport of Preston for £1500 plus vat in July 1974.
Photograph courtesy of John Atkinson.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg RTF 810C Fleet No 13 (Chassis No FC 11101) was powered by a Gardner 6LX 150 engine in line with a 6 speed David Brown box and Kirkstall axle.
Purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 14th of April 1965 at a cost £3,343 33d it was registered on the 1st of May 1965.
RTF 810C was the fifth brand new Atkinson to enter service with Riding’s
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No UTC 720D Fleet No 22 (Chassis No FC 11129) was the 6th Atkinson to join the fleet and was registered new on the 11th of March 1966 after being purchased the previous month direct from Atkinson on the 14th of February at a cost of £3,362 10s.
Hand painted by the late George Edmundson it is pictured at the entrance to Longridge depot with this particular tractor unit being the first one of Riding’s Atkinson’s to be fitted with a David Brown splitter gearbox to help the under-powered Gardner 150 6LX engine cope a bit better.
After eight years service UTC 720D was sold on to a Mr J.R. Bignall of Haughton Green Darlington for the sum of £1500 plus vat.
Another shot of brand new Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No UTC 720D Fleet No 22 (Chassis No FC 11129) seen here parked inside the entrance to Longridge depot off Whittingham Road with an L.A.D. parked up inside, what was then called, Daniel Platt Garage.
After eight years service UTC 720D was sold on to a Mr J.R. Bignall of Haughton Green Darlington for the sum of £1,500 plus vat.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No VTF 270D Fleet No 3 (Chassis No FC 11892) powered by a Gardner 6LX 150 engine, was purchased brand new direct from the Atkinson factory at Walton le Dale on the 7th of April 1966 at a cost of £3,388 9s 8d and was registered for road use on the 22nd of April 1966.
Pictured in the depot at Longridge May 1965 the trailer is loaded with drums of Cereclor (chlorinated paraffin) from the ICI plant at Hillhouse
After eight years service Reg No VTF 270D was sold on to David Foster Haulage Contractors of Liverpool on the 14th of August 1974 for the sum of £1500 + vat.
Another shot Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No VTF 270D Fleet No 3 this time seen coming in to roost for an overnight stay at Thirsk in North Yorkshire.
It is hauling a 26 foot Crane built tandem axle trailer with a full 20 ton load of Plas Bins on board from the ICI plant at Wilton on Teesside destined for Wythenshawe near Manchester.
Once unloaded at Manchester it would then collect a full load of empty bins back for Wilton.
The late Tom Riding is pictured here at the wheel of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No WTF 190D Fleet No 2 (Chassis No FC 11893) as it happily plods up the A6 towards Shap from Hucks Brow during a fuel and performance exercise in December 1966 by Atkinson Motors Ltd which they called ‘More Horses or More Gears’
Shortly before the Gardner 6LXB 180 became available in January 1967 Atkinson did a comparison with WTF 190D, which was powered by a Gardner 6LX 150 in line with a David Brown 10 speed splitter box to see how it compared in performance and fuel consumption with a brand new 6LXB 180 in line with just a 6 speed David Brown gearbox.
At the time there was very little difference in the price between the two engine-gearbox combinations while on the test from Preston to Glasgow and crawling through a busy Carlisle Ridings 6LX 150 achieved 9.85 m.p.g while the factory Atkinson 6LXB 180 achieved 9.23 m.p.g.
On the return leg via sections of the recently opened M6 Riding’s 6LX 150, with the ten speed box, achieved 10.4 m.p.g while the factory Atkinson, with 6 speed box, achieved 8.97 m.p.g.
W & J Riding’s Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No WTF 190D Fleet No 2 (Chassis No FC 11893) was purchased new by Riding’s on the 25th of May 1966 at a cost of £3,388 9s 8d and was registered a week later on the 1st of June 1966.
Another shot taken during the fuel and performance exorcise, the late Tom Riding recalled below……
“In December 1966 just before the Gardner 6LXB 180 became available in January 1967 Atkinson did a comparison with one of our Gardner 6LX 150’s fitted with a 10 speed David Brown splitter gearbox to see how it compared in performance and fuel consumption with a 6 speed gearbox
We went up to Carlisle on the old A6 and came back down the motorway and had a good day out stopping for dinner at Gretna Green.
The gentleman on the left is Mike Listbrain from the Atkinson publicity department while on the right is Denton Winter Atkinson’s development engineer (ex Leyland)”.
One more final shot taken during Atkinson Motors fuel and performance exercise in December 1966 showing both vehicles parked up during a lunch break at Gretna Green cafe on the A74.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No BTE 180E Fleet No 54 was fitted with the first Gardner 180 6LXB engine to come off the Atkinson production line at Walton-le-Dale in January 1967.
Costing £3,420 and baring chassis No FC 14192 it was first registered for road use on the 15th of February 1967.
This particular vehicle was also fitted with, what was at the time, the new wide Kirkstall S cam brakes on the front and rear and was also the first Atkinson Mk I to have the lock actuator brakes.
In 2017 the late Tom Riding recalled….
” I loved these 6LXB engines economical, durable and did exactly what it said on the tin.
We only ever had trouble with two of them and in both cases it was our own fault.
Reg No BTE 180E ‘Engine No 155507’, pictured above, was the first 180 out of the Atkinson factory.
After 12 months or so we were advised by Patricroft to bring it in for suspect exhaust valves.
We ignored them thinking a Gardner couldn’t fail but it did and dropped a piece of a valve when on nights in Ilkley it was of course the fault of the screw driver slot on the face of the valve which had been removed from later engines.
A lesson was learnt and all the faulty heads were removed from our suspect engines and sent to Patricroft for new valves.
Another shot of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No BTE 180E Fleet No 54 (Chassis No FC 14192) which was fitted with the first Gardner 180 6LXB engine to come off the Atkinson production line at Walton-le-Dale in January 1967.
Pictured ready for the road in the depot at Longridge it was driven from new by Joe Masterson Snr.
Painted in Riding’s new livery of the time it was used on night trunk on the Darlington change over.
Pictured here when brand new is Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No CTB 260E Fleet No 52 (Chassis No FC 14193)
Purchased direct from the nearby Atkinson factory at Walton le Dale on the 18th of March 1967, at a cost of £3,461, Tom Riding took this picture on Longridge Fell the day it was first taxed for road use on the 1st of April 1967.
Baring chassis No FC 14193 it was the second Atkinson powered by a Gardner 180 6LXB engine to enter service with the fleet in 1967.
After eight years service it was sold on in March 1975 to a Mr Rooke of Crossens Southport for £1,200 plus vat.
Another shot of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No CTB 260E Fleet No 52 which was the second Gardner 6LXB 180 powered Atkinson to enter service with the fleet.
Driven from new by Louis Gornall it is seen here outside ICI Fibres head office at Harrogate in 1967..
The photograph was a publicity shot, for what was at the time, the new ICI terylene tarpaulins which were light and durable.
It also shows clearly one of Riding’s Crane Fruehauf built 33 foot trailers of which Riding’s had dozens.
Another angle showing Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No CTB 260E Fleet No 52, driven by the late Louis Gornall, during a publicity shot in 1967 for what was at the time, the new ICI terylene tarpaulins which were light and durable.
A final publicity photograph showing driver the late Louis Gornall outside ICI Fibres head office at Harrogate in 1967 during a publicity shoot for, what was at the time, the new ICI terylene tarpaulins which were light and durable.
Seen here in later years is another shot of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No CTB 260E Fleet No 52 (Chassis No FC 14193) which was purchased direct from the nearby Atkinson factory at Walton le Dale on the 18th of March 1967 at a cost of £3,461.
After eight years service it was sold on in March 1975 to a Mr Rooke of Crossens Southport for £1,200 plus vat.
Driver Arthur Luke takes time out for a photograph in May 1967 while stood next to brand new Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No CTJ 390E Fleet No 60.
Powered by a Gardner 6LXB 180 engine and baring chassis No FC 14194 it was purchased new direct from Atkinson on the 26th of April 1967 at a cost of £3,457 plus vat.
Registered for road use on the 1st of May 1967 it is seen here in the yard at Longridge while coupled to a Municipal 35 foot tandem axle coil carrier.
After what seems to have been a rather short life of only four years with Riding’s CTJ 390E was sold on to R Wells of Great Ecclestone in March 1971 for £1,200 plus vat.
Photograph courtesy of the late Jack Draper.
A close up shot of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No CTJ 390E Fleet No 60,
Powered by a Gardner 180 6LXB engine it is seen here when brand new in the depot at Longridge in May 1967.
Photograph courtesy of the late Jack Draper.
Another shot of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No CTJ 390E Fleet No 60 pictured in the depot at Longridge.
Registered new by Riding’s on the 1st of May 1967 at a cost of £3,457 plus vat it had for some rather unusual reason a short life with Riding’s and was sold on after only being in the fleet four years to R Wells of Great Ecclestone in March 1971 for £1,200 plus vat.
Photograph courtesy of the late Roger Kenney.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No DTC 740E Fleet No 33 (Chassis No FC 14195) was powered by a Gardner 6LXB 180 engine and entered service with the fleet on the 15th of June 1967 at a cost of £3,475.
Driven from new by Fred Bretherton it is pictured here parked near Knaresborough while coupled up to a Crane- Fruehauf four in line trailer.
Riding’s operated about 25 of these trailers on this service enabling the company to carry 16 tons legally.
The loaded tote bins are from Wilton and are on route to Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland.
On the return leg of the journey the empty bins were double decked thus allowing every alternate trailer to bring back finished Terylene for delivery in the North West and the Midlands which explains the heap of tarpaulins on the top of the loaded bins.
After eight years service DTC 740E was sold on to R. Wells of Great Ecclestone on the 20th of February 1975 for the sum of £1,200 plus vat.
Photograph courtesy of Fred Bretherton
Another shot of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No DTC 740E Fleet No 33 which entered service with the fleet on the 15th of June 1967 at a cost of £3,475.
Powered by a Gardner 180 6LXB engine it is pictured here coupled to a 33 foot tandem axle trailer with a 20 foot container on board.
Notice that there were no twist locks fitted on the trailers in those days with containers secured to the trailer by the means of steel chains.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4X2 tractor unit Reg No ETF 860F Fleet No 34 (Chassis No FC 14196) was purchased new direct from the Atkinson factory on the 6th of July 1967 at a cost of £3,597 10s 6d.
Registered for road use on the 1st of August 1967 it was powered by a Gardner 180 6LXB and is pictured above on the Atkinson vehicles stand at the 1967 Royal Lancashire Show while coupled up to a Crane Fruehauf ‘Bulkloader’ tank trailer.
On entering service with the fleet it was driven by Ted Woods and after eight years service was sold on to R Wells of Great Ecclestone on the 9th of July 1975 for the sum of £1125 plus vat.
The first powder tanker to enter service with the company is pictured here in October 1967 being hauled by Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No ETF 860F FleetNo 34 (Chassis No FC 14196) which was purchased new direct from the Atkinson factory at Walton le Dale Preston on the 6th of July 1967 at a cost of £3,597 10s 6d.
The brand new Crane-Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot non tipping powder tank was on demo for a couple of months, as at that time, Crane-Fruehauf were in the process of building four new ones for Riding’s,
At the time long serving Riding’s driver the late Ted Woods was the driver of ETF 86OF and the photograph was taken outside Longridge High School opposite his house on Preston Road by his wife Dorothy on the 16th of August 1967.
After eight years service ETF 860F was sold on to R Wells of Great Ecclestone on the 9th of July 1975 for the sum of £1125 plus vat.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4X2 tractor unit Reg No ETF 860F Fleet No 34 is pictured here in December 1967 at the premises of Drum Engineering Co Ltd Edward Street Works Dudley Hill Bradford West Yorkshire where a Wellworthy WS 9 Blower, complete with hydraulic drive, had been fitted to a brand new Crane-Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot non tipping tandem axle powder tanker,, one of four brand new tankers purchased for the commencement of the wholly owned subsidiary ‘Riding’s Bulk Haulage Ltd’ which began on the 1st of January 1968.
Tom Riding took the photograph alongside one of Bulwark’s Seddon Diesel tractor units coupled a tipping tank to show the complete different approaches each company had to the job at that time.
After eight years service ETF 860F was sold on to R Wells of Great Ecclestone on the 9th of July 1975 for the sum of £1125 plus 8% vat.
Four of a kind at Longridge!
This line up of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor units shows from left to right, Reg No’s CTB 260E and BTE 180E both powered by Gardner 180 6LXB engines and BTB 420E and MTD 160C which were both powered by Gardner 150 6LX engines.
Longridge Line Up!
Another shot showing four Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor units seen here coupled up to 33 foot tandem axle trailers.
From left to right Reg No CTB 260E and Reg No BTE 180E were both powered by Gardner 6LXB 180 engines while Reg No BTB 420E and Reg No MTD 160C were both powered by Gardner 6LX 150 engines.
Seen here coupled to one of Riding’s bog standard 40 foot flats is Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No FTF 410F Fleet No 1 ‘Majestic’ (Chassis No FC 14198) which was driven from new for a period of fourteen years by long time serving Riding’s driver Albert Brown aka ‘Big Albert’.
The late Tom Riding recalled….
“Albert lived in Accrington and was almost invariably on the North East runs which were relative short mileages.
He was offered several new vehicles over the years but always insisted that he stayed on this one.
It only did about 800.000 miles in its whole life and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Gardner 180 6LXB engine isn’t still powering a junk in Hong Kong harbour to this day”.
A close up shot of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No FTF 410F Fleet No 1 ‘Majestic’ which entered service with Riding’s on the 1st of October 1967 after being purchased brand new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd at a cost of £3,546 16s on the 7th of September 1967 and was the last Mk [ that ran in the fleet until it was withdrawn in 1981.
Powered by a Gardner 180 6LXB engine it was driven from new for a period of fourteen years by long time serving Riding’s driver Albert Brown aka ‘Big Albert’ and is pictured here parked up in the depot at Longridge.
Photograph courtesy of Geoff Milne.
Another shot of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg FTF 410F seen here parked up in Accrington where it was out based when driven by the late Albert Brown aka ‘Big Albert’.
Big Albert drove for Riding’s for 28 years but in later years suffered a stroke while driving 401 Series Seddon Atkinson Reg No A360 KFR over Blubberhouse resulting in it running off the road.
Unfortunately Albert never recovered enough to return to work and died shortly after.
A final shot of Gardner 180 engined Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No FTF 410F Fleet No 1 ‘Majestic’ which was driven from new for a staggering 14 years by driver Albert Brown aka ‘Big Albert’.
It is seen here coupled up to an old ex Pickford ‘CRANE’ built low loader with knock out rear axles.
Owned by Walter Carefoot, Jim Riding’s brother-in-law, it was only ever used to move Walters plant equipment whose premises were located just next door to Riding’s depot in Longridge.
In 1967, between the Christmas and New Year period, Riding’s took five of their new powder tankers down to the De Tabley Hotel by the river in Ribchester for a photo shoot.
The late Tom Riding called this picture the ‘A Team’.
From left to right are drivers Ted Woods, Jack Swanson, Fred Bretherton, Bill Coolican and Dick Walton.
Driver Dick Walton takes time out for a photograph alongside Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No HTE 940F Fleet No 63 (Chassis No FC 16130) which was powered by a Gardner 180 6LXB engine.
Purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 23rd of January 1968, at a cost of £3,918, it was registered for road use a week later on the 1st of February 1968.
It is pictured above having just discharged 20 tons of Corvic from it’s tanker at Osma Plastics at Ashford in Kent which had been loaded at the ICI Ltd Hillhouse Works at Thornton in Lancashire.
After seven years service with Riding’s HTE 940F was sold on in June 1975 to a local haulier by the name of Mr Jack Gardner from Chipping Lancashire for £1,300 plus vat who put it to work hauling for Tilcon.
Atkinson Mk 1 Silver Knight ‘Rear Steer 6×2 tractor unit Reg No KTF 280F Fleet No 24 (Chassis No 16053) was one of a pair purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 18th of March 1968 at a cost of £4,564 each, the other being LTD 780F Fleet No 25 (Chassis No FC 16054), both of which were powered by Gardner 180 6LXB engines
Pictured here in early 1969, with long time serving driver Anthony Freeman, it is pictured parked on the M6 Charnock Richard service area in Lancashire loaded with 22 tons of copper sulfate loaded at Widnes and destined for ICI at Wilton.
After three years in 1972 both of Riding’s Rear Steer 6×2 tractor units were cut down into 4×2 tractors.
The reason being when the legislation came in to permit 32 tons much more easily on 4 axles, even with a 30/33′ foot trailer, the 32 ton 6×2 tractor unit became obsolete literally overnight with many converted into a 4×2 combination.
After being cut down in 1972 KTF 280F remained in the fleet for a further three years as a 4×2 tractor unit it was sold on to a Mr W.B. Barnes of St Helens on the 7th of April 1975 for the sum of £1,200.
Driven from new by Tommy Lambert Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No LTF 100F Fleet No 35 (Chassis No FC 16056) was powered by a Gardner 180 6LXB.
Purchased brand new by Riding’s from the local Atkinson factory at Walton le Dale on the 12th of June 1968, at a cost of £3,787 19s 10d, it remained in service for eight years until May 1976 when it was sold on J & J Rimmer of Churchtown Southport for the sum of £1,300 plus vat.
Picture above when brand new in June 1968 it is coupled to a 33 foot trailer with large steel tank on board secured by chains and ratchets.
Baring Chassis No FC 16055 Atkinson only built two like this in 1968 i.e. they were Mark I chassis but had the first pre-production Mark II cabs.
The first one was shown at Kelvin hall motor show in the livery of Russell of Bathgate and this one was the only other one that Atkinson Motors built.
The only way it looks to be visibly different is the water filler cap on the radiator as at this early stage of design Atkinson had not yet located the water header tank behind the cab.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No MTC 690G Fleet No 46 (Chassis No FC 162901) is pictured here when brand new parked in the depot at Longridge.
Registered new on the 1st of August 1968 it had been purchased by Riding’s the previous month on the 12th of July 1968 at a cost of £3787 19s 10d and was driven on a regular basis by Gordon Sharples.
After eight years service it was sold on to Mr J Birch of Rainhill Motors Warrington Road Rainhill Merseyside on the 28th of June 1976 for the sum of £1912.50.
A colour shot of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No MTC 690G Fleet No 46 pictured here when brand new parked in the depot at Longridge.
Registered new on the 1st of August 1968 it had been purchased by Riding’s the previous month on the 12th of July 1968 at a cost of £3787 19s 10d and was driven on a regular basis by Gordon Sharples.
Photograph courtesy of the late Jack Draper.
Another colour shot showing Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No MTC 690G Fleet No 46 while parked outside the old depot buildings on Whittingham Road in Longridge now the site of the local Aldi supermarket car park.
Powered by a Gardner 180 6LXB engine it is pictured coupled to a 33 foot flat trailer loaded with a de-mountable tank.
Back in the day there were no twist locks on trailers so the tank was secured to the trailer with just ropes.
A final shot,black and white picture showing Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No MTC 690G Fleet No 46 coupled to a 33 foot trailer loaded with a de-mountable tank.
Powered by a Gardner 180 6LXB engine the late Tom Riding recalled…..
“This vehicle, which had ‘Engine No 162901’, suffered a failure when it jumped the timing chain at Carlisle simply because we had not paid enough attention to the chain tension which was essential on those engines.
All our maintenance people were more switched on to Leyland engines which of course didn’t have a timing chain at all and it was a salutary lesson learned and it never happened again”.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4X2 tractor unit Reg No NTB 600G Fleet No 42 ‘Regal’ (Chassis No FC 16058) was powered by Gardner 180 6LXB engine.
Purchased on the 27th of August 1968 for £3,787 direct from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd it was registered on the 11th of September 1968.
Unfortunately two years later on the 30th of October 1970 it was involved in a serious accident on the A171 at Ormesby Bank resulting in extensive damage to the offside of the cab and steering mechanism.
More details can be found in Accidents Happen.
After being repaired in the workshops at Longridge NTB 600G went on to serve Riding’s for another eight years until it was eventually sold on to T R Taylor of Melling near Liverpool for £1,600 plus vat on the 4th of October 1976.
Photograph courtesy of Geoff Milne.
Powered by a Gardner 180 6LXB engine Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No NTD 820G Fleet No 65 ‘Famous’ (Chassis No FC 16069) was purchased direct from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 17th of September 1968 at a cost of £3,838 19s 10d and went into service two months later on 18th of November 1968.
It is seen here shortly after entering service while discharging it’s load at Yorkshire Imperial Plastics at Leeds in November 1968 during the first delivery on behalf of ICI Plastics of Hillhouse with the suits at the rear of the tank discussing the ins and outs of the brand new non tipping tanker.
After eight years service Reg No NTD 820G was sold on to a Mr B. McGowan of Ribbleton Preston for the sum of £1,550 plus vat on the 28th of August 1976.
Purchased new on the 17th of September 1968 direct from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd at a cost of £3,838 19s 10d, , Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No NTD 820G Fleet No 65 ‘Famous’ (Chassis No FC 16059) was powered by a Gardner 180 6LXB engine and was first registered for road use two months later on the 18th of November 1968.
This nice close up colour shot shows it parked in the line up at Longridge depot while coupled to a loaded 40 foot flat trailer ready for the off.
After eight years service NTD 820G was sold on to a Mr B McGoran of Ribbleton Preston for the sum of £1,500 plus 8% vat on the 28th of August 1976.
Photograph courtesy of Geoff Milne.
A final shot of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No NTD 820G Fleet No 65 ‘Famous’, (Chassis No 16059) this time seen in a lay-by at Rugby just before the start of the M1.
This photograph was taken by it’s driver Fred Bretherton in the days before the M6 and MI had been connected.
Having loaded 20 tons of Corvic at ICI Ltd Hillhouse works the journey to Osma Plastics at Ashford or Marley at Lenham was 320 miles which involved going straight through the centre of London in those days.
This particular lay-by was approximately half way and back in the day it provided a well earned resting place as the old Gardner 180 6LXB engine never failed so there was never a chance of the driver getting a rest if it broke down.
Photograph courtesy of Fred Bretherton.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No PTB 840G Fleet No 66 ‘Mighty’ (Chassis No FC 17376) was based at Teesside and was one of the last Mk I’ tractor units bought by Riding’s before the Mk II’s replaced them later that year.
Purchased direct from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 25th of January 1969, costing £4,123, which was the equivalent of £85,114 in 2023, it was registered a week later on the 1st of February 1969.
Pictured above on the M6 in Lancashire it is hauling a Crane Fruehauf tanker loaded with ‘Corvic’ a granulated PVC resin produced by ICI from their vast Wilton site.
After five years in the Riding fleet PTB 840G was sold on to a Mr A Johnson of Longton near Preston on the 28th of May 1976 for the sum of £1,500 plus vat.
