Riding's Bulk Haulage Ltd
In 2010 the late Tom Riding recalled in detail about the introduction of powder tanker trailers into the fleet in 1968 and the emergence of the wholly owned subsidiary ‘Riding’s Bulk Haulage Ltd’…..
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 (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.
Seen here on the 16th of August 1967 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 the newly formed subsidiary Ridings Bulk Haulage Ltd.
Another shot of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No ETF 860F (Chassis No FC 14196) this time seen here collecting a borrowed Crane Fruehauf tandem axle powder tanker from their Warrington depot in October 1967.
During those early days of tanker operations late in 1967 a number of tankers were loaned by Crane Fruehauf while Riding’s had their own tankers built by the company of which a number arrived in December 1967 for the start of the bulk haulage operations which began in earnest in January 1968 with the formation of Riding’s subsidiary company Ridings Bulk Haulage Ltd.
A press release which appeared in an edition of Commercial Motor in February 1968.
This announced the arrival of W & J Riding’s brand new bulk tanker fleet and the formation of W & J Riding’s subsidiary company which was named ‘Riding’s Bulk Haulage Ltd’.
Seen here coupled up to a Crane-Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot non tipping powder tanker is L.A.D. cabbed Leyland Beaver 4×2 tractor unit Reg No MTJ 440C Fleet No 5.
Powered by a 600 Power Plus engine it was a new addition to the fleet on the 6th of April 1965 at a cost of £2,810.
Following an accident in 1968 it was rebuilt and turned out to be the only L.A.D. cabbed Leyland Beaver in the fleet to be painted in this experimental livery which, after much deliberation, Riding’s decided not to adopt.
The photograph was just for publicity purposes as MTJ 440C was assigned to the general haulage fleet and never actually pulled a powder tanker as it was not part of the Bulk Haulage tanker fleet.
Powered by a Gardner 6LXB engine Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight tractor unit Reg No HTC 200F Fleet No 62 (Chassis No FC 14159) was purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 28th of October 1967 at a cost of £3,550 45d and was not registered for road use until the 1st of January 1968 when the wholly owned subsidiary ‘Riding’s Bulk Haulage Ltd’ came into being.
It is pictured here coupled up to one of the four brand new Crane-Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot non tipping powder tankers to enter service with the company in January 1968.
In the new livery of ‘Riding’s Bulk Haulage Ltd’ these were the days when all the graphics what you see on the tanker were hand painted by dedicated sign writers, unlike today, where its all white paint and vinyl transfers.
In 1967 between the Christmas and New Year holiday period Tom Riding took five of the company’s brand new Crane Fruehauf 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 with drivers from left to right, Ted Woods, Jack Swanson, Fred Bretherton, Bill Coolican and Dick Walton.
This rear end shot taken between the Christmas and New Year of 1967 shows four brand new Crane Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot powder tankers , introduced into the fleet during December 1967 for the commencement of Ridings Bulk Haulage Ltd on the 1st of January 1968.
All the sign-written detail to each of the tankers was painstakingly hand painted and was a credit to the dedicated craftsman the likes of which we rarely see in this day and age.
Today virtually all commercial vehicles on the road are coated in removable self adhesive graphics known in the trade as ‘vehicle wraps’.
The first of three photographs showing Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No HTE 940F Fleet No 63 coupled to a tandem axle Crane-Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot non tipping powder tanker
Pictured here while discharging 20 tons of Corvic into the silos in 1968, at OSMA plastics in Ashford Kent, the driver in the picture is the late Dick Walton who was quite young at the time.
Dick drove for Riding’s until his retirement from the company many years later.
The second of three photographs taken in 1968 shows Riding’s driver the late Dick Walton as he takes time out for a photograph alongside Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No HTE 940F Fleet No 63.
Dick had just discharged 20 tons of Corvic at OSMA plastics in Ashford Kent which he had previously loaded at the ICI Ltd Hillhouse Works at Thornton Blackpool.
This type of work was a big traffic flow for W & J Riding for many years.
Purchased new from Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 23rd of January 1968, at a cost of £3,918, Reg No HTE 940F was registered for road use a week later on the 1st of February 1968.
After seven years service in the W & J Riding fleet it was sold in June 1975 to a local haulier by the name of Mr Jack Gardner from Chipping Lancashire for the sum of £1,300 plus vat who put it to work hauling for Tilcon.
The third and final shot showing driver the late Dick Walton alongside Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No HTE 940F Fleet No 63 coupled to a Crane-Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot non tipping powder tanker
Dick had just discharged 20 tons of Corvic at OSMA plastics in Ashford Kent which he had loaded the previous day 300 miles away at the ICI Ltd Hillhouse Works at Thornton Blackpool.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No NTD 820G Fleet No 65 ‘Famous’ is shown here while discharging it’s load at Yorkshire Imperial Plastics at Leeds in November 1968.
This was the first delivery on behalf of ICI Plastics of Hillhouse and the suits at the rear of the tank are discussing the ins and outs of the brand new non tipping tanker.
Baring chassis No FC 16059 Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No NTD 820G Fleet No 65 ‘Famous’ was purchased new on the 17th of September 1968 at a cost of £3,838 19s 10d and was first registered for road use two months late on the 18th of November 1968.
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.
Another shot taken in November 1968 at Yorkshire Imperial Plastics Leeds showing a brand new Crane-Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot non tipping powder tanker making what was at the time the first delivery on behalf of ICI Plastics of Hillhouse
New Years Day Thursday the 1st of January 1970 and Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No NTD 820G Fleet No 65 is seen here after loading its powder tanker up with the very first load of Corvic from the brand new plant, known then as ‘Corvic 7’ at Runcorn.
The driver, with his foot on the step, was a youthful Freddie Bretherton who went on to complete a total of 42 years service with W & J Riding.
Another shot taken on New Years Day Thursday 1st of January 1970.
Freddie Bretherton is pictured at the wheel of Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4×2 tractor unit Reg No NTD 820G Fleet No 65 as he sets off with the very first load of Corvic out of the brand new plant, then known as ‘Corvic 7’ at Runcorn.
Atkinson Mk I Silver Knight 4X2 tractor unit Reg No PTB 840G Fleet No 66 ‘Mighty’ was the very last Atkinson Mk I to enter service with Riding’s.
Driven from new by Edwin Cousell it is seen here hauling a 1450 cubic foot tandem axle Crane Fruehauf built powder tanker, in Riding’s Bulk Haulage Ltd livery, used for the distribution of ‘Corvic’ which was a granulated PVC resin produced by ICI at their Hillhouse works.
Atkinson Mk II 4X2 tractor unit Reg No WTB 660H Fleet No 41 was a brand new addition to the Riding fleet on the 1st of March 1970 at a cost of £4,708.22p.
Assigned to the bulk haulage fleet this was another classic Mark II tractor unit powered by a Gardner 6LXB 180 engine in line with a six speed David Brown gearbox and Kirkstall BDR axle and was driven from new by Ron Rich who eventually went on to start his own successful powder tank business.
After eight years service WTB 660H was sold on to a W.R. Taylor of Melling Liverpool on the 8th of March 1978 for £2,500 plus vat.
This rear end shot, taken by the late Tom Riding, shows one of the 1450 cubic foot tandem axle powder tankers which were built by Crane Fruehauf at Dereham factory in Norfolk which closed down in 2005.
Painted in Riding’s ‘Bulk Haulage Ltd’ livery these tankers were used for the distribution of ‘Corvic’ which was a granulated PVC resin produced by ICI at their long gone Hillhouse works at Thornton near Blackpool which closed in 1999.
An on the road shot of Atkinson Mk II 4X2 tractor unit Reg No WTB 660H Fleet No 41 seen here hauling a ‘Ridings Bulk Haulage Ltd’ 1450 cubic foot Crane Fruehauf tanker with a widespread bogie.
Atkinson Mk II 4×2 tractor unit Reg No ETF 510J Fleet No 77, powered by a Gardner 180 engine, is seen here when new in 1971 hauling one of the company’s tandem axle powder tankers.
Driven on a regular basis by the late Fred Wolstenholme (aka Pluto) it is pictured here at the premises of Hepworth Polva Plastics in Padiham near Burnley in Lancashire a company which manufactured plastic piping and guttering.
Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No HTD 470K Fleet No 27 ‘Competent’ is seen here on the 25th of May 1973 on Archway Road London while hauling a 1450 cubic foot Crane Fruehauf powder tanker.
Powered by a Gardner 180 engine it was purchased new by Riding’s in September 1971 at a cost of £4,802 and driven from new by Bill Coolican who drove for Riding’s for over 40 years.
After being in service with Riding’s for nine years HTD 470K was sold locally on the 27th of November 1980 for £700.
Photograph courtesy of Edward J Beazley.
Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No JTC 960K Fleet No 10 ‘Kidwelly’ 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.
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, in Northern Ireland, JTC 960K was detached from its tanker trailer, stolen and was never to be seen again.
Photograph courtesy of Edward J Beazley.
Atkinson Borderer Reg No XTF 970L Fleet No 29 ‘Masterfull’, registered new to Riding’s on the 29th of March 1973 at a cost of £5,322.48p plus vat is seen above in its original role while on contract to ICI Ltd Plastics Division Wilton works.
This was one of six tractor units fitted with the Gardner 180 engine and plated at 32 tons GVW. with all subsequent tractor units having either the 8 cylinder Gardner or the Cummins to comply with the 6 BHP per ton legislation.
The Crane -Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot capacity tanker in the picture would later have a tri-axle bogie fitted so it could run at 38 tons GVW.
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.
This Atkinson publicity shot shows Atkinson Borderer 4X2 tractor unit Reg No XTB 850L Fleet No 18 ‘Leviathan’ coupled to a Crane Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot non tipping powder tanker in ‘Riding’s Bulk Haulage Ltd’ livery.
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 fleet in 1973 costing £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 YTC 980N Fleet No 6 ‘Eminent’ was registered new on the 1st of September 1974 at a cost of £8,134.33p plus vat.
Powered by 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.
Arthur is pictured here while discharging a Crane Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot non tipping tank at the Welvic plant of ICI Ltd Hillhouse Works at Thornton Blackpool.
Another shot of Atkinson Borderer 4×2 tractor unit Reg No YTC 980N Fleet No 6 ‘Eminent’ seen here discharging a Crane Fruehauf 1450 cubic foot non tipping powder tanker at the Welvic plant in the ICI Ltd Hillhouse Works at Thornton Blackpool which closed in 1999.
Seddon Atkinson 4×2 tractor unit Reg No RCW 400P Fleet No 46 ‘Precursor’ which was the very first 400 Series 4×2 tractor unit with a Gardner 240 eight cylinder engine to come out of the Atkinson factory in February 1976 at a cost of £11,874 + vat with an additional cost of £1,400 which was spent on fitting Wentworth blowing equipment.
With an overhaul unladen weight of eleven and a half tonnes, including the powder tanker, it was first registered for road use on the 3rd of March 1976 and driven from new by Ted Woods.
After nine years service at W & J Riding RCW 400P was finally scrapped on the 31st of December 1985 and its Gardner 240 eight cylinder engine removed and sold on for £2000.
The business end of Seddon Atkinson 4×2 tractor unit Reg No RCW 400P Fleet No 46 ‘Precursor’.
When purchased new at a cost of £11,874 plus vat an additional £1,400 was spent on fitting Wentworth blowing equipment which can be seen in the picture along with the unusual air intakes fitted behind the cab.
Pictured here while coupled up to a tandem axle powder tanker is Gardner 240 engined Seddon Atkinson 4×2 tractor unit Reg No AHG 820R Fleet No 90 ‘Silver Jubilee’.
Driven from new by Bill Tyson it was registered new on the 1st of June 1977 and was painted in a special livery to commemorate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s silver jubilee which took place in 1977.
The 1540 cubic foot Crane Fruehauf powder tanker would later be fitted with complete new tri-axle running gear to operate at 38 Tons GVW.
Seddon Atkinson 400 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No YFR 560R Fleet No 30 ‘Relentless’.
Miles Ward was the regular driver of this 240 Gardner engined tractor unit which is seen here delivering the first tanker load of PVC from ICI Hillhouse to a new silo installation at Catterick.
Seddon Atkinson 400 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No BCW 600R Fleet No 45 ‘Undaunted’ was painted in an experimental livery which was not applied to many of Riding’s vehicles.
Powered by a Gardner 8LXB engine it is seen here on the A59, approaching the top of Blubber Houses while hauling a 1540 cubic foot Crane Fruehauf powder tank loaded with Corvic.
This tanker would later be fitted with complete new tri-axle running gear to operate at 38 tons gross vehicle weight
Note the Wellworth WS9 compressor fitted in front of the rear axle which Riding’s fitted as they were renown for running very quietly.
Photograph courtesy of David Chalker.
Seddon Atkinson 400 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No FFV 680S Fleet No 91 ‘Western Star’ was driven by Jack Kelly and was powered by a Gardner 240 engine.
Pictured here parked up on the M62 Hartshead Moor service area, in West Yorkshire, it is coupled up to one of Riding’s trademark tandem axle powder tankers carrying Corvic plastic granules for ICI.
Driven by Kevin Jordan, and based at Thornaby depot on Teesside, Seddon Atkinson 400 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No LFR 310T Fleet No 73 ‘North Star’, was powered by an 8 cylinder Gardner engine and first registered for road use on the 1st of September 1978.
Pictured parked in Thornaby depot it is seen coupled up to one of the many non tipping Crane Fruehauf tri-axle powder tankers Riding’s operated in their fleet.
One of the first Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor units in the fleet was Reg No DCW 930Y Fleet No 71 ‘Vanguard’.
Pictured here coupled to a brand new 1880 cubic foot Carmichael non tipping tank in standard company livery ICI later had them painted in their own ICI grey and white contract livery.
Seddon Atkinson 401 tractor unit Reg No VPW 233Y Fleet No 15’Black Douglas’ is seen here with its lime tank having loaded 25 tons of GBL from Shap for delivery to Ravenscraig steel works.
This was just one of the six loads Riding’s did every 24 hours seven days a week.
Seddon Atkinson 301 Series 4X2 tractor unit Reg No A130 HCK Fleet No 77 ‘Sir Tristram’ was registered new on the 1st of August 1983 and driven from new by Mick Mckay.
Pictured here towards the end of it’s working life at Riding’s it is being used as the yard shunter in Longridge depot.
Parked outside the tyre bay at Longridge depot it is coupled to a non tipping Murfitt 1600 cubic foot tri-axle powder tanker which is undergoing a tyre change to it’s rear nearside axle.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No A190 OCW Fleet No 58 ‘Resolute’ was registered new on the 1st of March 1984.
It is seen here coupled up to a 1540 cubic foot Crane Fruehauf powder tank which was one of several that had originally been operated by fellow TDG member ‘Reliance Tankers’ that were obtained by Tom Riding after they ceased powder tanker operations.
After arriving at Longridge in 1986 they were taken to Municipal Trailers of Bamber Bridge who converted them into tri-axle outfit’s and then repainted them into W & J Riding’ livery.
This Seddon Atkinson publicity photograph was taken in 1984 at the ICI Rocksavage works in Runcorn.
On the left Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No A900 KFR Fleet No 81 ‘Dominant’ was powered by a Gardner 300 eight cylinder turbo engine and driven from new by the late Bill Coolican a Riding’s man all his life.
Registered new on the 1st of September 1983 at a cost of £26,725 it gave ten years service until it was scrapped in January 1993 with the engine sold on for export for £2,500.
On the right Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No DCW 930Y Fleet No 71 ‘Vanguard’ was powered by a Gardner 300 eight cylinder turbo engine and was driven from new by the late Ted Woods who was also a Riding’s man all his life.
Registered new on the 25th of March 1983, at a cost of £25,926, it was sold on to John Killingbeck eight years later on the 4th of September 1991 for £2,250 plus vat.
The photograph shows A900 pulling away at the ICI Rocksavage works at Runcorn, while 930Y has just followed in under the overhead loading gantry.
A close up shot of Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No A900 KFR Fleet No 81 ‘Dominant’ which was registered new on 1st of September 1983 at a cost of £26,725.
Powered by an eight cylinder Gardner 8LXCT 300 bhp engine, and driven from new by the late Bill Coolican, it is pictured here coupled to one of the many Carmichael 2000 cubic foot tri-axle powder tankers that Riding’s had in their fleet.
A pair of brand new Carmichael 2000 cubic foot non tipping powder tanks pictured at Riding’s Thornaby depot.
They are parked up awaiting the start of the movement of Nylon chip from Wilton to Pontypool.
Altogether eight of these brand new tankers, all in ICI livery, were bought for this contract in late 1984 early 1985.
Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No B800 YFR Fleet No 75 ‘Great Western’.
Registered new on the 1st of March 1985, at a cost of £28,412 and powered by a Gardner 300 8LXCT engine it is seen here with the first load of nylon chip in April 1985 delivered in a brand new ICI liveried bulk tanker from ICI Wilton Middlesbrough to ICI Pontypool works.
Previously this product had been transported in tall tote bins by ICI’s in house fleet, but once Riding’s acquired the contract it became a night and day operation which went on for many years.
The Teesside based driver, Terry Mclaughlin, is seen second from left in the boiler suit.
Another shot of Seddon Atkinson 4×2 tractor unit Reg No B800 YFR Fleet No 75 ‘Great Western’, seen in the previous picture in Riding’s own livery.
This particular vehicle along with the tanker was on contract to ICI Ltd who decided they wanted contractors vehicles painted in their corporate livery of white and grey, thus B800 YFR was suitably liveried up.
A final shot of Seddon Atkinson 4×2 tractor unit Reg No B800 YFR Fleet No 75 ‘Great Western’ which was powered by a Gardner 300 8LXCT engine.
Pictured here parked up in Riding’s Thornaby depot on Teesside it is coupled up to a Carmichael 2000 cubic foot non tipping powder tanker.
Driven by Terry Mclaughlin and based in Thornaby the tractor and tanker are in, what was at the time, the ICI corporate livery of white and grey.
B800 YFR remained in the Riding fleet for seven years until it was withdrawn in June 1992 and after having it’s engine removed was scrapped.
Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No C850 GFV Fleet No 88 ‘Challenger’ was purchased new on the 7th of August 1985 at a cost of £26,496 and was registered on the 1st of September 1985.
Powered by a Gardner 320 16 litre engine It is pictured here beneath Junction 33 of the M62 and the old A1 junction at Ferrybridge in West Yorkshire while hauling a Carmichael 2000 cubic foot non tipping powder tanker which was one of eight brand new tankers, all in ICI livery, bought for this contract in 1984
After eight years service C850 GFV was sold on to J.C. Commercials of Bootle on the 23rd of December 1993 for the sum of £2,075 plus vat.
Photograph courtesy of the late Colin Wright.
Seddon Atkinson 401 4X2 tractor unit Reg No C300 HFV Fleet No 63 ‘Great Britain’ was originally fitted with a Gardner 6LYT320 16 litre engine.
Purchased new on the 12th of August 1985 at a cost of £26,496 it was not registered until the 1st of October 1985,.
Based at Riding’s Thornaby Teesside depot it was driven from new by Jimmy Renton but in February 1994 the normally reliable Gardner engine suffered a catastrophic failure which was replaced with a 14 litre Cummins E290
Pictured above it is coupled to a Carmichael 2000 cubic foot non tipping tri-axle powder tanker was used on the countrywide delivery of plastic products from ICI Ltd Wilton.
After nine years service C300 HFV was sold on to J.C. Commercials of Bootle for £2,075 plus vat on the 4th of November 1994.
Photograph courtesy of renown lorry photographer Peter J Davies.
Another shot of Seddon Atkinson 401 4X2 tractor unit Reg No C300 HFV Fleet No 63 ‘Great Britain’ which was originally fitted with a Gardner 6LYT 320 16 litre engine.
Purchased new on the 12th of August 1985 at a cost of £26,496 it was not registered until the 1st of October 1985,.
Based at Riding’s Thornaby Teesside depot it was driven from new by Jimmy Renton but in February 1994 the normally reliable Gardner engine suffered a catastrophic failure which was replaced with a 14 litre Cummins E290
The picture above, taken on the old A1 South at Wetherby roundabout in West Yorkshire, shows it coupled to a 1600 cubic foot Murfitt tank with the outfit used on the countrywide delivery of plastic products from ICI Ltd Wilton.
After nine years service C300 HFV was sold on to J.C. Commercials of Bootle for £2,075 plus vat on the 4th of November 1994.
Photograph courtesy of Roy Beecher.
Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No C970 JBV Fleet No 97 ‘Polar Star’ was purchased new from Seddon Atkinson Vehicles Oldham on the 22nd of August 1985 at a cost of £26,458 but was not registered until just over two months later on the 1st of November 1985.
Powered by a Gardner 16 litre 320 engine it is seen here with it’s first load of corvic from ICI Runcorn in a brand new Carmichael 2000 cubic foot tri-axle tanker.
Driver Fred Bretherton, who used to carry a camera with him, took this photo just outside Dublin prior to delivering the load to Marley Tiles in Lurgan.
After nine and a half years service C970 JBV was sold on to J.C. Commercials of Bootle on the 7th of April 1995 for the sum of £2,500 plus vat.
Photograph courtesy of Fred Bretherton.
Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No C980 JCK Fleet No 30 ‘Patriot’.
A brand new addition to the fleet on the 1st of November 1985 at a cost of £26,458 50p it was powered by a Gardner 6LYT 16 litre 320 engine, and was driven from new by the late Jimmy Holden.
Pictured above parked on the fuel island in the depot at Longridge it is coupled up to a 1540 cubic foot Crane Fruehauf powder tanker.
After being in service for seven years late in 1992 C980 JCK was finally withdrawn from service and rather than being sold on was broken up for spare parts.
More details can be found in the Seddon Atkinson ‘401’ Series gallery.
Seddon Atkinson 401 4×2 tractor unit Reg No C450 OCK Fleet No 32 ‘Illustrious’ powered by a Gardner 6LYT 16 litre 320 engine, was purchased new from Seddon Atkinson Vehicles Ltd on the 23rd of April 1986 at a cost of £27,468 plus vat and was first registered on the 1st of June 1986.
The Crane Fruehauf 1540 cubic foot non tipping tandem axle powder tanker, Fleet No T79, was one of several obtained from fellow TDG group member ‘Reliance Tankers of Manchester’ after they ceased powder tanker operations in June 1986..
On arrival at Longridge it was converted from a tandem into this tri-axle by Municipal Trailers of Bamber Bridge with the late Tom Riding taking this photograph when the newly converted tanker had just emerged from the paint shop.
After seven years service Seddon Atkinson 401 Reg No C450 OCK was withdrawn and scrapped on the 22nd of March 1993 after suffering serious accident damage.
Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No C610 NRN Fleet No 11 ‘Cdeur-De-Lion’ was a brand new addition to the fleet on the 1st of June 1986 at a cost £27,468.90p plus vat.
This particular tractor unit was allocated to Riding’s Teesside depot and was driven from new by Kevin Jorden, another 30 year man.
Seen here heading South on the M5 in Worcestershire it is hauling a Carmichael 2000 cubic foot non tipping tri-axle powder tanker full of nylon chip destined for ICI Ltd Pontypool which was a big traffic movement for Riding’s at this time.
C610 NRN was eventually sold to JC commercials of Bootle on the 13th of February 1995 for £2,250 plus vat.
Registered new on the 1st of March 1987 Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No D100 XHG Fleet No 69 ‘Hotspur II’ was powered by a Gardner 6LXDT 290 engine.
Driven from new by the late Richard Walton it is seen here coupled up to a 1540 cubic foot Crane Fruehauf non tipping tri-axle powder tanker.
For a time this particular outfit was out based at Penrith and used on Castle Cement work engaged in two trips every 24 hours between Clitheroe in Lancashire and Coatbridge in Scotland.
After eight years service with Riding’s D100 XHG was sold on to J.C. Commercials of Liverpool for £2,200 plus vat on the 18th August 1995 and must have been almost the last vehicle that Tom Riding sold before his retirement from the company in October 1995.
Photograph courtesy of Geoff Milne.
1987 and Seddon Atkinson 401 Series 4×2 tractor unit Reg No D100 XHG Fleet No 69 ‘Hotspur was used in this Edbro publicity shot which was taken after they had designed and supplied a special long-stroke DD21 hydraulic ram for use on one of Riding’s Carmichael 54.5 cubic metre capacity bulk tipping tankers which cost £31,660 plus VAT in July 1987.
Due to the exceptional length of the tank when tipped it reached a height of 11 metres so this necessitated the use of a special Edbro DD21 hoist which incorporated both a long stroke and double sliders for additional rigidity.
Seddon Atkinson 4-11 4×2 tractor unit Reg No E120 HCK Fleet No 4 ‘Pathfinder’ (Chassis No 82719) was another of the large batch of Seddon Atkinson 4-11 tractor units to enter service during the period of 1987/8.
Purchased new from Seddon Atkinson on the 25th of August 1987 at a cost of £27,459. 48p plus vat it was powered by a Gardner 6LXDT engine in line with a Fuller gearbox and Eaton rear axle.
Driven by Bill Cookson it is pictured here on the old A17 passing through the village of Leadenham in Lincolnshire returning empty to Runcorn having delivered a full load of Corvic plastic powder to Anglian Windows in Norwich.
Coincidentally the late Tom Riding was based just up the road from this location at RAF Cranwell from 1954 to 1956 during his national service and used to frequent the public house in the picture.
In August 1994 E120 HCK was written off after being involved in an accident and was withdrawn and scrapped.
Seddon Atkinson 4-11 4×2 tractor unit Reg No E990 GCW Fleet No 73 ‘North Star’ was registered new by Riding’s on the 2nd of October 1987.
Driven by Alan Hide it is pictured here parked in the depot at Longridge while coupled up to one of the company’s Crane Fruehauf built 1540 cubic foot non tipping tri-axle powder tanker’s.
An on the road shot of Seddon Atkinson 4-11 4×2 tractor unit Reg No E990 GCW Fleet No 73 ‘North Star’.
Registered new on the 2nd of October 1987 it was powered by a Gardner 6LXDT 290 engine.
Driven by Alan Hide it is pictured here on the M4 near Swinton hauling a Carmichael 2000 cubic foot non tipping tri-axle powder tanker en-route to the European Vinyl’s Corporation plant at Barry in South Wales for another load of pvc powder.
Photograph courtesy of Adrian Cypher.
The very first ERF 4×2 tractor unit in W & J Riding’s fleet was Reg No F540 THG Fleet No 102 ‘Skiddaw’ an ERF E10 powered by a Cummins L10 325 engine.
Brand new in August 1988 it was based at Riding’s Thornaby Teesside depot and this on the road shot shows it coupled up to a Carmichael bulk powder tanker trailer.
In 2017 the late Tom Riding recalled…..
“These tanker trailers were built by Carmichael of Worcester and weighted fractionally under five tons.
This gave us an incredible payload of 27 tons which was the main reason we got the job of moving terephthalic acid powder from ICI WIlton to Eastman Kodak at Workington.
Four tractor units and eight tankers were used on the job with each loaded tanker dropped on a tipping ramp and tipped by gravity.
Under normal circumstances we did a load every three hours which amounted to 56 loads a week.
Unfortunately to my knowledge no photographs exist of this operation because cameras were not allowed on site at that time”.
Seddon Atkinson Stratocruiser 4×2 tractor unit Reg No F815 GNA Fleet No 17 ‘Highland Chieftain’, registered new on the 11th of November 1988, is seen here heading down the M5 destined for the European Vinyl’s Corporation plant at Barry South Wales.
Driven by the late Bill Lambert, who passed away on the 30th of December 2014, it is hauling a 1540 cubic foot Crane Fruehauf non tipping tri-axle powder tanker.
Seddon Atkinson Reg No F815 GNA was bought second hand, minus it’s gearbox, from Translitre of Burton on Trent on the 3rd of September 1991 at a cost of £10,000 plus vat.
Powered by a Cummins E 320 big cam engine it remained in service with Riding’s until the 27th of January 1998 when it was sold on to J.C. Commercials of Bootle for £2,000 plus vat.
ERF E10 4×2 tractor unit Reg No F550 ABV Fleet No 35 ‘Pen-Y-Ghent’, powered by a Cummins L10 325 engine was registered new on the 1st of March 1989.
It is pictured here parked in Longridge depot on the 2nd of May 1993 after being in service with Riding’s for just over four years while coupled to a 1540 cubic foot Crane Fruehauf non tipping tri-axle powder tanker, a type of which Riding’s had many in their fleet.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
Seddon Atkinson Stratocruiser 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G30 WVT Fleet No 75 ‘Sir Geraint’ which was originally registered new to ANC Parcels on the 1st of August 1989
Powered by a Cummins L10 325 engine it was one of four ex ANC Parcels Seddon Atkinson Stratocruiser tractor unit’s Tom Riding bought on the 24th of April 1992 from local dealer Syd Hartley.
It is pictured here while discharging a load of powder granules from a bulk container.
This was the first delivery on a new job for Bell Line seen here at the Sterling Mouldings plant in Stalybridge.
The brand new unpainted bulk container, built by Van Hool of Belgium, was full of plastic granules and was under going testing and evaluation as can be seen by the number of representatives on site from Bell Line, Van Hool and Sterling Mouldings.
In case of any problems Tom also sent along his mechanic Ian Cornall seen stood next to one of Riding;s garage vans on the right.
Thornaby depot based Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G388 JKY Fleet No 104 ‘Iron Duke’ is seen here discharging its load at the Sterling Mouldings plant in Stalybridge during the first delivery on a new job for Bell Line in a brand new unpainted bulk container, built by Van Hool of Belgium, which was under going testing and evaluation.
The business end of a tipping skeletal trailer when fitted with a rotary feeder.
It is seen here discharging plastic granules at Hepworth’s of Padiham where the operation and layout can be clearly seen and understood from this photograph.
Teesside based Seddon Atkinson Strato 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G388 JKY Fleet No 104 ‘Iron Duke’ was powered by a Cummins L10 325 engine.
Registered new on the 4th of August 1989 it was purchased second hand when three years old from local dealer Syd Hartley on the 29th of May 1991 at a cost of £16,750 plus vat and is seen here in Thornaby yard coupled up to a 1450 cubic foot Crane Fruehauf non tipping powder tank.
This particular powder tank was dedicated to the job of moving black plastic pellets from ICI Wilton to the Nissan car plant at Sunderland were they were used in the manufacture of bumper bars.
‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G790 JCW Fleet No 2 ‘Knight of the Thistle’ was purchased brand new on the 17th of July 1989 at a cost of £30,951 plus VAT and first registered on the 1st of September 1989.
Fitted with a Cummins L10 325 engine it was originally used when new on general haulage and driven by Geoff Hunt.
Transferred to the bulk haulage fleet it is seen here in January 1993 at Longridge depot during the transfer of bagged ICI powder into a powder tanker for onward delivery.
After nine years service with Riding’s it was sold on to a dealer in Liverpool in January 1998 for £2,000 plus vat.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
Another shot of ‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No G790 JCW Fleet No 2 ‘Knight of the Thistle’ which was purchased brand new on the 17th of July 1989 at a cost of £30,951 plus VAT
Pictured here on the Westbound M62 Hartshead Moor service area in West Yorkshire it is coupled to a Murfitt 1600 cubic foot non tipping powder tank.
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 to 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 to Riding’s on the 1st of March 1987.
‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No K620 VHG Fleet No 30 ‘Patriot’ was registered new on the 17th of February 1993.
Powered by a Perkins E12TX 325 engine it is seen pictured above parked in Longridge depot on the 2nd of May 1993 while coupled up to a 1540 cubic foot Crane Fruehauf non tipping powder tank.
Early in 1996, shortly after the retirement of Tom Riding, K620 VHG along with the Crane Fruehauf non tipping powder tank lost their Riding identity when they were given the scarab green ‘TDG Nexus’ livery.
Photographs courtesy of Chris Richards.
‘E’ Series ERF 4×2 tractor unit Reg No K730 URN Fleet No 6 ‘Sir Lancelot’ was registered new on the 1st of February 1993.
Powered by a Perkins E12TX 325 engine and in European Vinyls Corporation (EVC Ltd) livery it was driven by Fred Bretherton.
Seen here in May 1993 at Longridge depot it is coupled up to a Riding liveried Carmichael 54.5 cubic metre capacity tri-axle powder tanker.
Photograph courtesy of Chris Richards.
Based at Thornaby depot on Teesside and driven from new by Jimmy Renton ERF EC12 4X2 tractor unit Reg No L380 MEO Fleet No 26 ‘Sanspareil’, powered by a Perkins E12 TX325 engine, was bought new by Riding’s in December 1993 at a cost of £37,295 plus vat, and was assigned to hauling 54.5 cubic metre capacity Carmichael tanker on the Wilton – Pontypool movement of Nylon chip.
After many years use a tractor unit it was latter fitted with a ballast box and is still in use today as a ballast tractor on Teesside Docks.
Riding’s first Foden 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M450 RRN Fleet No 5 ‘Great Eastern’ is seen here coupled up to a non tipping Crane Fruehauf tanker.
It is discharging a load of sugar at the Duerrs jam factory on Prestage Street Old Trafford Manchester in 1994.
Another shot of Foden 4×2 tractor unit Reg No M450 RRN Fleet No 5 ‘Great Eastern’ this time seen here travelling on the southbound carriageway of the A1 south of Boroughbridge while hauling a Carmichael 54.5 cubic metre capacity tri-axle tanker.
Photograph courtesy of Roy Beecher.
