Seddon Atkinson KPF 421W
Seddon Atkinson 400 Series 6×2 tractor unit Reg No KPF 421W Fleet No 50 (Chassis No FC 42505) was unique in being the one and only three axle tractor unit that W & J Riding operated while Tom Riding was managing director of the company.
Named ‘Alfred the Great’ and powered by Cummins E290 engine it was fitted with a Norde bogie third axle conversion used on general haulage and then later assigned to hauling a tandem axle tipping powder tanker at 38 tons GVW.
Registered new on the 1st of August 1980 KPF 421W is seen here in its original form when operated by Ifield Transport of Crawley West Sussex.
Riding’s purchased it second hand when three years old from Yardley of Kidderminster for £9,400 plus vat on the 7th of August 1983.
Another shot of KPF 421W seen here in it’s original form when originally operated from new by Ifield Transport of Crawley West Sussex as a 4×2 tractor unit.
January 1984 and KPF 421W is seen here in the depot at Longridge five months after entering service with the fleet.
Still a 4×2 tractor at this time nine months later in October 1984 it would be sent to R J & I Wells of Great Eccleston for a Norde bogie third axle conversion, as can be seen in the following picture below.
In October 1984 KPF 421W was fitted with a Norde bogie third axle conversion which cost £3,270 plus vat.
Seen here on the fuel island at Longridge depot it had been converted by R J & I Wells of Great Eccleston who also fitted a Norde bogie to one of their own Seddon Atkinsons at the same time.
Photograph courtesy of the late Michael Deuchars.
May 1985 and KPF 421W waits to turn right into the depot on Whittingham Road in Longridge.
Powered by Cummins E290 engine KPF 421W was later used on a regular basis pulling a tandem axle tipping trailer at 38 tons GVW.
Photograph courtesy of the late Michael Deuchars.
KPF 421W is photographed here by Bob Tuck while parked in Thornaby depot on Teesside.
Seddon Atkinson 400 Series 6×2 tractor unit Reg No KPF 421W Fleet No 50 certainly got around and is seen here at Shackleton Mill in the village of Lucan near Dublin Southern Ireland while loading up with gluten which was destined for the factories of Heinz at Wigan or Harlesden in London.
In later life KPF 421W came to grief in the wet when it ran into the rear of a Fleet Haulage tanker when travelling unit only at Grimsargh about 3 miles from the depot at Longridge.
After the accident it was rebuilt using the cab from Seddon Atkinson 400 Series Reg No UJP 758S Fleet No 79 ‘Hardwicke’ which had been scrapped in June 1986.
Another shot of KPF 421W came to grief in the wet when it ran into the rear of a Fleet Haulage tanker when travelling unit only through the village of Grimsargh Lancashire.
Seen here parked in Longridge depot after six years service with Riding’s KPF 421W was eventually sold to John Killingbeck of Blackburn on the 1st of August 1989 for £2,700 plus vat where it started its third life.
