EVC Contract
European Vinyl’s Corporation Ltd (EVC) was formed in October 1986 as a joint venture comprising of the VCM and PVC resin and compounds businesses of Italy’s EniChem and England’s ICI which were, at that time, Western Europe’s second and fourth largest PVC producers respectively.
With their history of supplying a reliable powder transport system for ICI it was only natural that W & J Riding were given the contract to move vast amounts of pvc powder across the country and consequently gave part of their fleet of tractor unit’s and tankers the grey and white EVC livery.
In March 2001, the INEOS Group acquired a majority shareholding in EVC and by 2005 EVC became wholly owned by INEOS Vinyl’s UK Ltd, which today, is Europe’s leading Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) manufacturer and currently ranked fifth worldwide.
ERF E10 4×2 Reg No F810 TCK Fleet No 103 ‘Cross Fell’, powered by a Cummins L10 325 engine, was purchased new by Riding’s direct from ERF on the 31st of August 1988 at a cost of £29,861.50 plus vat.
Seen here when brand new on the 1st of October 1988, coupled to a Crane Fruehauf 55 cubic metre tipping tanker, it was initially used on the EVC contract but was later transferred to Riding’s Thornaby depot on Teesside where it was used for hauling a Carmichael tri-axle powder tanker in ICI Petrochemicals livery.
ERF E10 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No F270 YBV Fleet No 20 ‘Royal Sovereign’ was purchased new on the 13th of January 1989 at a cost of £29,588 + vat.
Powered by a Cummins L10 290 engine it was first registered for road use on the 1st of March 1989.
Driven from new by the late Ted Woods this was the first EVC liveried sleeper cabbed tractor unit to be assigned to the European Vinyl’s Corporation contract and is pictured here while coupled to a Crane Fruehauf 55 cubic metre tipping tanker also in EVC livery.
After nine years service with Riding’s F270 YBV was sold on the 19th of March 1998 to D.G. Taylor of Driffield in East Yorkshire. for an undisclosed sum.
Another shot of ERF E10 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No F270 YBV Fleet No 20 ‘Royal Sovereign’ again coupled to its own regular tanker No 122.
Built by Crane Fruehauf it was the first tanker Riding’s bought that was fitted with air suspension.
Pictured here while parked in the depot at Longridge notice how the makers have incorporated the tipping ram into the tank body thus gaining overall length and increasing capacity.
Photograph courtesy of the late Michael Deuchars.
Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No F815 GNA Fleet No 17 ‘Highland Chieftain’ was originally registered new on the 11th of November 1988.
It was purchased secondhand when three years old on the 3rd of September 1991 at a cost of £10,000 plus vat from Translitre of Butron upon Trent.
Driven by the late Bill Lambert it is seen here in European Vinyl’s Corporation Ltd livery coupled to a 2000 cubic foot non tipping tank built by Carmichael.
After being in the fleet for just over seven years F815 GNA was sold on to J.C. Commercials of Liverpool for the sum of £2,000 plus vat.
A nice location shot showing Seddon Atkinson Strato Reg No F815 GNA Fleet No 17 ‘High Chieftain’ which is seen here having just loaded with Corvic at the ICI Runcorn plant.
Driver of F815 GNA, the late Bill Lambert, took this photograph in 1996 a few months after Tom Riding had retired from the company.
By this time F815 GNA had already acquired its Nexus branding along with the ERF on the right, now in a scarab green Nexus livery.
Bill Lambert, who was a driver with Riding’s for over 40 years, sadly passed away on the 30th of December 2014.
EVC liveried Carmichael 2000 cubic foot tipping powder tanker is seen here discharging its load of plastic powder granules at the Y.I.P factory in Leeds.
Driver Mick McKay, who took the photograph, was driving Seddon Atkinson 301 Series 4X2 tractor unit Reg No C150 BKP Fleet No 92 ‘Sir Lancelot’ at the time.
‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G770 HHG Fleet No 3 ‘Snowdon’ was powered by a Cummins L10 325 engine.
Purchased new by Riding’s on the 14th July 1989, at a cost of £31,636 plus vat, it was not registered for road use until the 1st of September when it was allocated to the EVC contract and driven from new by long serving Riding’s driver Ken Moon.
It is pictured here parked in the depot at Longridge while coupled up to a 2000 cubic foot tri-axle Metalair tipping tanker also in EVC livery.
After nine years service G770 HHG was sold on the 19th of March 1998 to D.G. Taylor Commercial Vehicles Ltd of Driffield for a undisclosed sum.
Another shot of ‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G770 HHG Fleet No 3 ‘Snowdon’.
Purchased new by Riding’s on the 14th of July 1989, at a cost of £31,636 plus vat, it is pictured here parked up in the depot at Longridge.
Photograph courtesy of Geoff Milne.
Registered new on the 1st of September 1989 Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G881 GFV Fleet No 95 ‘Morning Star’ was powered by a Cummins 14 litre engine.
It was purchased secondhand when three years from local dealer R. Wells Ltd of Great Eccleston on the 3rd of September 1992 at a cost of £17,250 plus vat,
In the contract livery of European Vinyl’s Corporation Ltd (EVC), it is coupled up to a 2000 cubic foot Metalair tipping tank also in EVC contract livery.
After six years service with Riding’s it was sold on the 12th of February 1998 to G.W. Holliday of Penrith for the sum of £3,400 plus vat.
Another shot of Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G881 GFV Fleet No 95 ‘Morning Star’. seen here parked in front of the garage in Longridge depot in 1994.
Originally registered new on the 1st of August 1989 this day cabbed Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G914 UYV Fleet No 15 “Conqueror’ was purchased second hand when three years old from Seddon Atkinson on the 29th of September 1992 at a cost of £12,500 plus vat.
Seen here parked next to the wash at Longridge this particular Strato was out based at Runcorn along with the curtain-sider trailer also in the contract livery of EVC Compounds, a subsidiary of European Vinyl’s Corporation Ltd.
Running on a daily basis between European Vinyl’s Corporation’s Helsby and Wrexham factories it was driven on a regular basis by Chris Davis.
After six years service G914 UYV was sold on to D.G. Taylor Commercials of Driffield on the 19th of March 1998 for an undisclosed sum.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
Another shot of day cabbed Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G914 UYV Fleet No 15 ‘Conqueror’.
Out based at Runcorn this particular Seddon Atkinson Strato and curtain-sider trailer were both in the contract livery of EVC Compounds which was a subsidiary of European Vinyl’s Corporation Ltd.
Running on a daily basis between European Vinyl’s Corporation’s Helsby and Wrexham factories G914 UYV was driven on a regular basis by Chris Davis.
Again we see day cabbed Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G914 UYV Fleet No 15 ‘Conqueror’ but this time hauling a tri-axle powder tanker.
The unusual tanker, built by Carmichael of Worcester, was originally part of the BICC fleet where it was pulled by a tilt cab Leyland Beaver but when EVC took over the business the tanker was allocated to Riding’s for a nominal fee.
The two tanks were built to enable two different coloured products to be carried at the same time with the plastic granules compounded at Helsby and transported to Wrexham.
The hydraulic motor and the Holmes blower needed to tip and discharge the tanks were driven by a Ford four cylinder diesel engine carried under the tanker.
G914 UYV was used to pull either this tanker or a tautliner as and when required.
Another shot of day cabbed Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G914 UYV Fleet No 15 ‘Conqueror’ which was driven on a regular basis by Chris Davis.
Besides pulling an EVC livered curtain sider trailer it was also allocated, as and when required, to pull this twin powder tanker which was used to transport plastic granules from Helsby, were they were compounded, across to Wrexham.
The unusual tanker, built by Carmichael of Worcester, was originally part of the BICC fleet and each tank could be tipped independently by means of Edbro tipping rams mounted centrally
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
A close up shot of Riding’s twin powder tanker.
The concept of having two separate tanks enabled two different coloured products to be carried at the same time and both tanks could be tipped independently by means of Edbro tipping rams mounted centrally
Out-based at Runcorn it was used to transport plastic granules compounded at Helsby and then transported to Wrexham.
The hydraulic motor and the Holmes blower needed to tip and discharge the tanks were driven by a Ford four cylinder diesel engine carried under the tanker.
Being out based at Runcorn it was rarely seen at Longridge except on occasion’s such as this when it had been sent over for either a routine service or MOT preparation in Riding’s own workshops.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No H840 VFR Fleet No 1 ‘Precursor’ (Chassis No 88366) was purchased new from Seddon Atkinson Vehicles Ltd the 27th of April 1990 at a cost of £32,883+vat, but was not registered until four months later on the 17th of August 1990.
Powered by a Perkins 325 TX engine in line with a Fuller twin speed splitter gearbox it is pictured here after just entering service on Sunday morning the 19th of August 1990.
This was its very first day on the road and driver Mick McKay, on the right, can be seen preparing to load his gear into the cab.
It is coupled to a Carmichael tipping tank in Riding’s livery that was used exclusively on the movement of Corvic paste to Nairn’s of Kirkcaldy.
After eight years service H840 VFR was sold on to D.G. Commercials Ltd of Driffield on the 19th of March 1998 for the sum of £1,950 who then exported it to a customer on the Mediterranean island of Malta.
Another shot Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No H840 VFR Fleet No 1 ‘Precursor’ (Chassis No 88366) on the first day in service on the 19th of August 1990 with driver Mick McKay, aged 37 at the time, about to leave the depot destined for Nairn’s of Kirkcaldy.
Unfortunately H840 VFR was quite problematic as sixteen months later in December 1991 it had to have a replacement Perkins 325 engine fitted and then seventeen months after that, on the 13th of May 1993, had yet another replacement Perkins 325 engine fitted.
After eight years service it was then sold on to D.G. Commercials Ltd of Driffield on the 19th of March 1998 for the sum of £1,950 and was later exported to the Mediterranean island of Malta.
A pair of Riding’s powder tankers are seen here while the drivers take a break on the M6 Southwaite service area in Cumbria after tipping their loads of plastic granules at the Mainetti manufacturing plant in Jedburgh Scotland.
On the left, painted in European Vinyl’s Corporation (EVC Ltd) contract livery, is Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No H840 VFR Fleet No 1 ‘Precursor’ which was registered new by Riding’s on the 17th of August 1990.
On the right, in standard W & J Riding livery, is Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No D100 XHG Fleet No 69 ‘Hotspur II’ which was registered new by Riding’s on the 1st of March 1987.
Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No H840 VFR Fleet No 1 ‘Precursor’ (Chassis No 88366) was registered new on the 17th of August 1990.
Pictured on the pumps at Longridge depot, with driver Mick McKay, it is seen pulling a tipping and blowing skeletal trailer.
This was the first Strato Riding’s had that was fitted with a Perkins 325 TX engine and subsequently this engine in all the other vehicles proved to be very durable and very efficient but unfortunately H840 VFR was quite problematic as sixteen months later in December 1991 it had to have a replacement Perkins 325 engine fitted and then seventeen months after that, on the 13th of May 1993, had yet another replacement Perkins 325 engine fitted
After being in service with Riding’s for eight years it was then sold on to D.G. Commercials Ltd of Driffield on the 19th of March 1998 for the sum of £1,950 and was later exported to the Mediterranean island of Malta as can be seen here on the right.
Pictured here in Longridge yard, hooked up to Metalair tipping tanker, is another Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit that was registered new on the 17th of August 1990.
Reg No H860 VFV Fleet No 9 ‘Dreadnought’ was driven from new by Ian Smith and powered by a Perkins 325 TX engine.
It generally worked out of the ICI Runcorn works in European Vinyl’s Corporation Ltd livery.
A rear end shot of Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No H860 VFV Fleet No 9 ‘Dreadnought’ during tipping operations.
Driven on a regular basis by Ian Smith it is pictured here while Ian was discharging a fifty five cubic meter tipping tank at Anglian Windows in Norwich.
This particular photograph was taken by the ICI publicity department.
‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No K730 URN Fleet No 6 ‘Sir Lancelot’, registered new on the 1st of February 1993, is seen here while tipping one of Riding’s Metalair 55 cubic metre tipping tanker’s full of Corvic at the Unidare plant in Portadown Northern Ireland.
With still one ram left to go it would be no problem for the outfit as it is stable and on firm ground.
Photograph courtesy of Fred Bretherton.
Another day and another delivery for ‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No K730 URN Fleet No 6 ‘Sir Lancelot’.
Powered by a Perkins E12TX 325 engine it was driven by Fred Bretherton who is seen here delivering pvc to the ‘PVC Group’ Stephanie Works factory at Chinley High Peak Derbyshire.
This particular delivery point necessitated reversing about 300 yards down a track as there was very little room to manoeuvre.
Photograph courtesy of Fred Bretherton.
‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No K730 URN Fleet No 6 ‘Sir Lancelot’, registered new on the 1st of February 1993, was immediately assigned to the ECV contract.
Powered by a Perkins E12TX 325 engine, and driven by Fred Bretherton, this close up shot shows it parked in the depot at Longridge while coupled to a 55 cubic metre non tipping tri-axle powder tanker built by Carmichael.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No K930 AEC Fleet No 86 ‘Sir Barnaby’ was registered new on the 1st of February 1993.
Powered by a Perkins E12 325 engine it is seen here on the 9th of September 1993 on the southbound M1 Toddington Services in Bedfordshire and was driven by long time serving Riding’s driver Ken Marle.
Allocated from new to the EVC contract this particular ERF stayed on this job for most of it’s working life at Riding’s.
Photograph courtesy of renowned lorry photographer Peter J Davies.
Another shot of ‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No K930 AEC Fleet No 86 ‘Sir Barnaby’ as it prepares to load up a Carmichael 55 cubic metre non tipping tri-axle powder tanker at the EVC plant at Barry in South Wales.
In another photograph, taken at the EVC plant in Barry South Wales, we again see ‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No K930 AEC Fleet No 86 ‘Sir Barnaby’ coupled up to a Carmichael 55 cubic metre non tipping tri-axle powder tanker.
Parked behind, also waiting to load up, is an unidentifiable Seddon Atkinson Strato coupled to a Crane Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot tanker in full Riding’s livery.
Allocated from new to the EVC contract ‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No K930 AEC Fleet No 86 ‘Sir Barnaby’ certainly earned it’s keep and covered some miles during it’s life with Riding’s.
Having already been seen above in previous photographs at Toddington Services in Bedfordshire and Barry in South Wales this particular picture shows it parked up on the M6 Southwaite service area in Cumbria.
Pictured here 1996, one year after Tom Riding retired from the company, you can see Riding livery has been removed from the headboard and front grill.
Foden 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M920 UCW Fleet No 85 ‘Hardwicke’, registered new on the 1st of January 1995, was Longridge based and driven by the late Ted Woods.
Powered by a Perkins 335 TX engine, as were all the Foden’s in the fleet, it is seen here heading South on the AI in North Yorkshire while hauling a 55 cubic metre Crane Fruehauf non tipping tanker used exclusively on the European Vinyl’s Corporation contract.
Ted had 45 years service with the company and was the first bulker driver at Riding’s when they started the tanker business in 1968.
During his driving career with the company Ted had ten brand new units and M920 UCW was the ninth in the long line a record to be justly proud of.
Photograph courtesy of Roy Beecher
A close up shot of Foden 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M920 UCW Fleet No 85 ‘Hardwicke’.
Pictured here parked in the depot at Longridge while coupled to a Crane Fruehauf tri-axle 55 cubic metre tipping tank M920 UCW was driven by the late Ted Woods.
Ted had 45 years service with the company and was the first bulker driver at Riding’s when they started the tanker business in 1968.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M430 URN Fleet No 11 ‘Coeur-de-Lion’ was registered new on the 1st of February 1995.
Coupled to a 55 cubic metre Crane Fruehauf non tipping tanker, in European Vinyl’s Corporation Ltd contract livery, it is seen here arriving back at Longridge depot on the 23rd of December 1995.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M490 WFR Fleet No 63 ‘Great Britain’ was registered new on the 1st of April 1995.
Powered by a Perkins 335 TX engine it is seen here parked up in the depot in Longridge on the Monday the 23rd of October 1995.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M520 WCW Fleet No 67 ‘Thane-of-Fife’ was based at Longridge and driven from new by long serving driver Tommy Dewhurst.
Seen here heading North on the M6 at Charnock Richard it was one of a pair of Foden’s Riding’s registered new on the 1st of April 1995.
Pictured here when new, pulling a 55 cubic metre Carmichael non tipping tanker used exclusively on the EVC contract, this particular outfit was used for delivering pvc in bulk nationwide from Runcorn in Cheshire and Barry in South Wales.
Photograph courtesy of Roy Beecher.
Another on the road shot of Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M520 WCW Fleet No 67 ‘Thane-of-Fife’ shows it travelling along the A585 towards Junction 3 of the M55 in Lancashire.
Pictured here on the 13th of June 1997, when just over two years old, you can see the Riding headboard and ‘Best in the Long Run’ logo has now long gone having been replaced with the TDG Nexus livery which came about after the retirement of Tom Riding in October 1995.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
This photograph taken by Rex Rich, shortly after the retirement of Tom Riding in 1995, shows three Riding’s vehicles parked up on Friday night at Chepstow ready for going into Barry on the Saturday morning to load and then saunter home back north.
Left to right…
Seddon Atkinson Strato Reg No H860 VFV Fleet No 9 ‘Dreadnought’.
Seddon Atkinson Strato Reg No H 840 VFR Fleet No 1 ‘Precursor’.
Foden 4335 Reg No M520 WCW Fleet No 67 ‘Thane-of-Fife’.
The drivers at the time were Howard Quick, Mick McKay and Rex Rich’.
