Foden
In 2014 the late Tom Riding gave an insight into the introduction of the first Foden 4×2 tractor units to enter service with W & J Riding in 1994.
“As always we were trying to get a low unladen weight, and the EC series ERF tractor unit had steadily got heavier.
At the time we were pulling 30 foot tipping skeletal trailers combined with rotary discharge feeders and as always weight was critical.
In 1994 we decided to purchase a batch of ten sleeper cabbed Foden 4X2 4335 tractor units powered by Perkins 335TX engine’s which joined the fleet at the rate of three in September 1994 then around one per month between January and June 1995 with five going to our Teesside depot and five based at Longridge.
In the deal we did the ten tractor units came from Foden agents Manchester Truck Centre on Duncan Street Salford with each one costing £39,750 plus 17.50 % vat.
On top of that there was the additional cost of hydraulic tipping and pumping equipment along with the cost of the Gardner-Denver compressor which amounted to a final on the road total of around £51,000 each, which was quite an investment for our company at that time.
They turned out to be splendid reliable cost effective machines but not, i think, as comfortable for the driver as the ‘E’ Series ERF’s
After serving their time in the fleet all of our Foden tractor unit’s were eventually sold on to Miles Fox of Clitheroe”.
The very first Foden 4×2 tractor unit to be introduced into the fleet was Reg No M450 RRN Fleet No 5 ‘Great Eastern’ (Chassis No 406227).
Purchased new from Foden dealers Manchester Truck Centre Duncan Street Salford on the 25th of August 1994, at a cost of £39,750 plus 17.50% vat, it was powered by a Perkins 335TX engine and registered for road use on the 24th of September 1994.
One of a batch of ten Fodens introduced into the fleet in 1994/5, M450 RRN was based at Riding’s Teesside depot and was driven from new by Vernon Goodision, but on this particular occasion it was being driven Ian Bulmer.
It is seen here coupled to a non tipping Crane Fruehauf tanker while discharging sugar at Duerr’s jam factory on Prestage Street in Old Trafford Manchester in 1995.
An on the road shot of Foden 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M450 RRN Fleet No 5 ‘Great Eastern’ pictured heading South on the A1M near Scotch Corner.
Powered by a Perkins 335TX engine this was the first of a batch of ten Foden 4×2 tractor unit’s introduced into the fleet over an eight month period in 1994/5.
M450 RRN was based at Riding’s Thornaby depot on Teesside and was driven from new by Vernon Goodision.
Foden 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M920 UCW Fleet No 85 ‘Hardwicke’ (Chassis No 406230), registered for road use 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 North on the M6 at Charnock Richard services in Lancashire while hauling a 55 cubic metre Crane Fruehauf non tipping tanker used exclusively on the European Vinyl’s Corporation (EVC Ltd) contract.
Ted had 45 years service with the company and was the first bulker driver at Riding’s when they started the tanker business back 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.
Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M430 URN Fleet No 11 ‘Coeur-de-Lion’ (Chassis No 406561) was purchased new on the 15th of January at a cost of £39,750 plus vat and was registered for road use on the 1st of February 1995.
Coupled to a 55 cubic metre Crane Fruehauf non tipping tanker, in European Vinyls Corporation Ltd contract livery and driven by long serving Riding’s driver Alan Hyde it is seen here arriving back at Longridge depot on the 23rd of December 1995.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
An on the road shot of Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M430 URN Fleet No 11 ‘Coeur-de-Lion’ which was driven by long serving Riding’s driver Alan Hyde
Seen here heading North on the M6, while passing the Charnock Richard service area in Lancashire, it is hauling a tri-axle 1600 cubic foot Murfitt non tipping powder tanker in W & J Riding livery.
Another shot of Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M430 URN Fleet No 11 ‘Coeur-de-Lion’ parked in the depot at Longridge.
Alongside are Foden’s Reg No M490 WFR Fleet No 63 ‘Great Britain’ and Reg No M520 WCW Fleet No 67 ‘Thane-of-Fife’.
Foden 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M190 URN Fleet No 87 ‘Lode star’ (Chassis No 406563) was purchased new on the 16th of January 1995 at a cost of £39,750 plus vat and was first registered for road use the following month on the 10th of February 1995.
This tractor unit was based at Riding’s Thornaby depot on Teesside and was driven from new by Mike Rich.
It is seen here on the A168 just North of Dishforth while hauling a 30 foot tipping skelly trailer which was fitted with a rotary feeder at the rear of the trailer for discharging pellets and powders using the bag in a box system.
The container belongs to Bell Line for whom Riding’s delivered countless numbers for all over the country.
Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M490 WFR Fleet No 63 ‘Great Britain’ was registered 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.
In the contract livery of European Vinyls Corporation (EVC Ltd) it is coupled to a 55 cubic metre Crane Fruehauf tipping tanker also in EVC Ltd contract livery .
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.
One of a pair of Foden’s Riding’s registered new on the 1st of April 1995 it is seen here heading North on the M6 while passing the Charnock Richard service area in Lancashire while hauling a 55 cubic metre Carmichael non tipping tanker, used exclusively on the European Vinyl’s Corporation (EVC Ltd) contract.
These tankers were used for delivering PVC in bulk nationwide both from Runcorn in Cheshire and Barry in South Wales.
Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M240 WRN Fleet No 66 ‘Sir Winston’ was first registered on the 1st of May 1995 and was based at Longridge depot.
Assigned to the general haulage fleet, and driven by Jimmy McCall, it is seen here in a filthy condition prior to going on the wash bay at Longridge while coupled up to a tri-axle 30 foot tipping skeletal trailer belonging to Verbrugge.
Another shot of Longridge based Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M240 WRN Fleet No 66 ‘Sir Winston’.
Driven from new by Jim McCall, aka Rubber Duck, it is pictured here on the Eastbound side of the M62 Hartshead Moor service area in West Yorkshire.
Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M760 WRN Fleet No 99 ‘Hercules’, was first registered for road use on the 1st of June 1995, and was the last of the batch of ten Foden 4×2 tractor units to enter service with the fleet in 1995.
Based at Longridge depot, and powered by a Perkins 335TX engine, as were all ten of the Fodens in the fleet, it is seen here coupled up to a tri-axle 30 foot tipping skeletal trailer belonging to Verbrugge.
Another shot of Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M760 WRN Fleet No 99 ‘Hercules’ sees it parked in the depot at Longridge while coupled up to an empty 30 foot tipping skeletal trailer belonging to Verbrugge.
Costing £39,750 plus vat on the 7th of May 1995 it was registered for road use on the 1st of June 1995 and was the last of the batch of ten brand new Foden 4×2 tractor units to enter service with the fleet in 1994/5.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards
A line up of six Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit’s parked up for the weekend at Longridge depot with Foden 4335 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M760 WRN Fleet No 99 ‘Hercules’ in the foreground.
The late Tom Riding recalled………
“These Fodens were chosen for their lower unladen weight and over the years they certainly gave a very good account of themselves although there were not as popular with the drivers as the EC ERF’s we had in our fleet.
After serving their time, well maintained and well looked after, in our fleet all ten of the Foden 4×2 tractor unit’s were eventually sold on to Miles Fox of Clitheroe who snapped up the lot”.
