Brambles Long Distance

I wonder if Greenie knows the history of this cab.
Pics by Dave Coomber on Facebook Western Stars.

Hi Clarkie, the only thing about this cab that I could tell you, is that it isn't from the East Coast.

The Brambles sticker on the door say's WA all over it, the East Coast had a much deeper Brambles sticker, than what was used over in the west.

It's got to be a very early Western Star cab, they used the same cab as the last of the White trucks, the square-ish ended air horns, the modern looking overhead marker lights, the slam locks on the door and the big rear window for a dog box, the extra long grab rail for getting into the cab, the look of the dash through the rear window, makes me think that it's a Western Star cab.

Have been known to be wrong on many, many occasions before, so, what's your handle on it ?


regards greenie [smiley=vrolijk_1.gif]

I too thought it looked like a late model,especially the lights on the roof.
Quoted from the photo supplier
"sitting up Paradise Rd,Brisbane, behind a chainlink fence,best pic of dash I could get,any ideas year,etc judging by original Brambles signs on doors?"

Someone else replied HHA yard.

As to any more info thats alll it said.
I just thought it would be of interest to your history.

Could be in John Kelly's yard, as he does some weird things when he start's to do up a bit of gear, for his Heavy Haul Australia fleet.

regards greenie [smiley=vrolijk_1.gif]

Here's a few more 'tid bits' dredged from the grey matter,

---

At Wivenhoe dam one very hot summers morning, there seemed to be a rather large gathering of the red trucks once again, only this time, Fred Williams had been banned from producing that excellent elixir, so, we had to absorb all this extra heat without due refreshments.

Eventually finished there at about 9.30 and the pub at Fernvale looked real inviting.
Up the road and what do you know, a few of J.N.Nicholsons drivers had already beat us to the bar.
The road outside the pub was nice and wide, two trucks could easily park side by side, so there was this rather large assembly of red trucks, green trucks and a bunch of subbies from both camps, all parked along the side of the highway.

The morning session got underway and a good time was happening, when the local Mr Plod had been informed of all these monster trucks, blocking all the available parking spaces, that the local traders required to do business. So, he sticks his head in the door of the bar and immediately realises what is eventuating.

Now one lone plod, against all this rowdy mob of rather large, half cut drivers was surely a very uneven one-sided fight.

He retreated very quickly and pondered on what to do.

He decided to fight dirty.

He phoned the depot at Hendra, this then caused a ruckus, Eric Collier was soon despatched to get this impromptu party back on the straight and narrow, only problem was, he had to drive from Hendra to Fernvale to get at us, a trip of just around an hour.

When 'Hector' Collier walked in the door at the pub, well, no way was anybody, taking any notice of this one lone little voice, 'Dada' Buckman soon corralled him and shoved a beer in his hand, after a couple he was soon enjoying the 'break' as well.

After refreshments were taken , some even had a leisurely meal, we had to depart this place, or, we would be late to get back to the yard for knock-off time.

Me, I just went straight home to hit the hay, as I had surely partaken enough of the liquid refreshments for the day. Those that did make it back to the yard that afternoon, were subjected to a severe ear bashing, but being well primed, it was all water of a ducks back.

All were threatened with the sack, strange thing though, over half the fleet was involved in that lot, would have been a bit hard for the boss, to suddenly find another bunch of drivers, at such short notice, eh.

---

Another very impromptu meeting happened at a place called Mt Larcom, the pub was extremely handy, being right on the side of the highway, the local council was even more obliging, by adding about an acre of tar, for the parking of the large vehicles, right over the road from the pub, very considerate this council actually.

It started as only one truck, pilot and Plod escort , but with-in an hour, there were about half a dozen trucks at this gathering. Some were headed north loaded, others were headed south un-loaded, just one of those things that happen, that they were all at the same place, at the same time.

A rather rowdy turnout eventuated with the drivers, Plods, pilots and other hangers on, all having a good time.

Unknown to anybody at all, was that Eric Collier, was just happening to be doing a bit of piloting, for another load heading north.

Well 'Hector' comes around the corner at Mt Larcom and what does he spot, about half the fleet of red trucks parked up.

Didn't need to be Einstein to work out where this lot were, eh.

He storms into the bar and proceeds to have a 'hissy fit' and starts reading the riot act to all and sundry.

After that rather rude interruption, that parking spot over the road, looked like the starting grid at Bathurst, as everybody tried to do a vanishing act.

---

That Mt Larcom pub was a regular stopping point on the northbound journey.
'Dada' Buckman was a regular to haunt this establishment, whenever time allowed him to do so.
He had a Plod and pilot this particular day and they stayed a tad to long at the bar, now the Plod with Dada, liked this rejuvenating elixir a bit too much, about the easiest way to describe his condition was, - he was pissed.

They decide to head north after everybody was well lubricated, the Plod was on a bike for this escort duty, he heads of up the road first, didn't get far at all because all he wants to do, is fall of this machine.

Now a drunken Plod on a bike is not a pretty sight to be seen at all, so somehow they got the bike up onto the right hand swing wing of the float and tied it down with rope so it can't escape.
What to do with the Plod now, he decides to direct the oncoming traffic, by riding this stationary bike while it's tied to the float, that didn't go on for long either, as he wanted to fall from the stationary bike as well.

It was then decided that the Plod should have the passenger seat in the Mack, 'Dada' reckoned that even sitting in that passenger seat, that the Plod was still trying to give directions to all the approaching vehicles.

Don't think he succeeded, eh.


regards greenie [smiley=vrolijk_1.gif]

Mt Larcom was a handy and popular stop, so was Yamba, just outa Rocky, good parking too.
Bin there done that too. : :

Great lot of stories there Greenie and others who also added to them . I met Frank Wharton when I was a young lad at Eudunda S.A. He was driving a Brambles R model Mack and low loader , cant remember what the load consisted of though and he had some mechanical problems while trying to get the unit over a set of railway tracks in the town and was stuck there for a few days. I remember that as an exciting event for myself in a small town with not much happening and probably didnt waiste much time letting Frank know that I was an up and coming truck fan who loved Mack trucks. I think I even took a couple photo albums up to show him and got him to autograph them , Im guessing the year would have been about 1970 . Its great to hear you mention Mr Snatch it and good and bad times that were had back then . Rob

When a man was still young and stupid(now only stupid).
John Pincott, the loading manager out of Long Distance,has a creamy one to Adelaide.
Beauty,straight load of 44s to the depot for transhipping elsewhere.
this was the first trip to Adelaide in the old AB184.
What a creamy run,a Brambles load that was not boardering on overheight.As anyone then would remember that most Brambles loads were made up of bits and pieces to make the maximum wieght.
Away we go along the Western Highway,new road new direction,until Mr Plod says 55MPH is too quick.
Jeez,that Senior constable Brian Gale was a hard man.
I had been warned about "Father Gale" from the guys that normally ran the Adelaide run.
Anyway,will pay the fine when it comes in the mail,or another week off in the slammer to cut the fine out.
All going good up to Murray Bridge,Pull into the Roadhouse on the western side of the bridge where you cross the Murray.
Cup of coffee and out to the truck to head off,when a regular Adelaide runner asks me if I have adjusted the brakes?
"why?"
"The road is a bit steep going in."

"It's only 50 miles to go."
"still think it would be a good idea we all do it here."
Not being totally stupid I have a brake adjustment on the truck and away we go.
The old road before the freeway twisted and turned through narrow villages and down the Lofties.
In those days no Jakes or fancy stuff.Low 2nd. and two hours into Adelaide.Average 25 MPH.
Good run to the depot,and to this day I remember the guy at Murray Bridge almost insisting I adjust the brakes.
I wonder this day if the average driver would be so thoughtful for ones safety.

Steveb, how interesting that happened to you, and good of the guy to warn you, I was driving for DeVito of Waikerie, a Leyland with hydraulic brakes and bogie trailer with full air, I just had a feeling while stopped at Murray Bridge and adjusted up the trailer brakes, just above Devil's elbow a front hydraulic brake hose burst and the pedal went straight to the floor, a horrible feeling most drivers have had, yanked the trailer brakes on and stopped me enabling me to select bog cog to go the rest of the way to the first pub!!

Ronhorse............Hope you did not have intentions of stopping at the Eagle on the hill,and hit the woh! peddle too hard.Not a nice place to blow a hose.