VIA ONE OF OUR NUMBER, MARTYN BRAWN, NOW WORKING FOR VOLVO, WE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WITH A TASTY MORSEL OF FOTOS CONSISTING OF TARMAC TEREX`S FROM THE 1980/90`S IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS.

THESE WERE GIVEN TO MARTYN BY AN EX TARMAC EMPLOYEE, ED MORGAN, AND WE TAKE THIS EARLY OPPORTUNITY OF THANKING ED FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO OUR WEBSITE.

ALSO INCLUDED ARE 3 MORE IMAGES SUPPLIED BY IAIN MILNE, ANOTHER EX TARMAC TYPE, NOW RESIDENT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AND A MATE OF ED MORGAN`S AT THE TIME.

WE SHOW THE FOTOS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, AND WITH NOTES ONLY ON A FEW, WHERE WE KNOW THE LOCATION ETC, BUT EVEN WITHOUT A LOT OF DETAIL, ITS STILL GREAT TO SEE THE MEAN GREEN MACHINES STRUTTING THEIR STUFF FROM BETWEEN 30 AND 40 YEARS AGO.

The first 3 are from Iain, and he says that they were taken on the M42 at Polesworth, which is east of Tamworth, north of the A5, but havent got a date for them. B9LOT`s figure heavily.

Tarmac 13

Tarmac 14

Tarmac 15

Then we have what was probably a publicity shot from Tarmac`s Derby Works……..again no time frame, but a nice selection of green stuff, TS14B`s, B9 & B10LOT`s, the view spoilt only by a couple of ugly Euc trucks !!

Tarmac Derby Works 2

Now follows a general series of shots which are all probably from the A14 contract, but if anybody knows better, then please let us know, but before that we are putting in a message from Ed Morgan that accompanied the images, which might help to pin down actual sites & dates……figuring heavily of course are the brace of TS24C Loadrunners, the last 24`s to be sold in the UK by B.H., or anybody else npossibly……ordered by Tarmac`s John Tull, who was guided down that route by the best salesman B.H. had in recent years, if not ever, the one and only Peter Goodley.

Ed`s message is in answer to one sent by us via Martyn.

"Hello Martyn – that makes sense. John Tull was/is a mate of mine; he was MD of Tarmac Earthmoving Division in late eighties  ‘til mid-nineties. He’s now Ops Director at Chepstow Plant.

I was posted to the M1-A1 Link Rd project  (I think) back in ’88. I was initially based on Contract 7 (Thrapston to Ellington) and yes, we had a temporary yard at Spaldwick at the east end of the trace and a big construction compound and workshops at a village called Bythorn at the west end of the section.

I remember some great times on there with some fantastic characters. Some of the scrapers then went to Folkestone and did work on what is now the Channel Tunnel terminal at Danton Lane ( I was there from ‘90-’93)

Several also were transferred to the centre section of the M1-A1 link road (Tarmac also landed Contract 1, Catthorpe Interchange) and Contracts 2 & 3 (Kelmarsh) One of the newer TS24C’s took a tumble down a steep batter and was extensively damaged on that section.

At least three of the old girls had the boxes reconfigured and as your Editor correctly states, ended up on the coal.

I saw them as recently as approximately 2008.

We ran quite an eclectic mix of stuff in Tarmac, Akerman, Liebherr, Euclid rigids, Terex 14/24, Cat D6, 8k, 825, 14 & 16G graders etc. Great days. Ed Morgan."

And also Iain Milne`s contribution….

"How's it going my old mate, hope all is well.
 
The machines did work on the A14 at Thrapston/Spaldwick area but they were actually delivered new to the M40 contract at Bicester. Delivery was made to Middleton Stoney Lane and first went to work there, lot of Terex guys were there, and if any of them are prepared to tell the truth 😀 they will tell you, first TS24C in the U.K.
 
First load, bogged to the b******s on the top soil tip, was hilarious especially after me and another guy had a bit of a discussion with the Terex guy saying we didn't think the box lifted high enough at full hoist, he disagreed, to our amusement.
 
I think the photos must have been on delivery, as the M40 was there first job, and the machines don't have the fleet numbers on the rad cowling, they were fleet numbers 17 & 18 as we called them although Tarmac policy was a six digit fleet number so 672017 and 672018, first jockeys Martin Sullivan and Blondie John.
 
Good machine, fast, comfortable, easy to work on.
 
Purchased well before the John Tull days (?? Ed), I think Ian Addlesee probably had more say in it than anyone else at Tarmac re the purchase. 
 
Keep in touch mate, Iain."

Tarmac 4

Tarmac 1

Tarmac 3

Tarmac 5

Tarmac 8

Tarmac 9

Tarmac 10


Tarmac 12

Tarmac 11

This last shot just sums it up really….John Gregory would have been proud of this one !!

Thanks once again to Martyn, Ed & Iain for helping us out with another wonderful piece of B.H. nostalgia.

The Editors                                           25/04/20

One response

  1. Hannah Rose Avatar
    Hannah Rose

    Hi Editors, reference was made to John Gregory in the latest update. I have worked with his son (John Gregory junior) for the best part of thirty years and so I copied and pasted your update to him. Well, talk about making someone’s day. John jnr was really chuffed and regaled us with tales of when junior was a young lad and would go with his dad all over the place. Editors, you made someone’s day.

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