Gascoyne Trading...

All narrow cabs there.
Wide cabs were a mid 80s thing with the 38s and then 35s and 44s.

Courtesy of the Battye Library, Western Australia:

















Cheers!

Slightly off topic but I notice the trailer on the train is tied down with turnbuckles and springs, anyone know why they did this? I put my car on the train once and I remember them roping it down and using a stick to tension the rope.

Many years ago (50+),when it was not sealed across the paddock, they used to chain the trucks down. This resulted in the wheel bearings on the truck and trailer being hammered, because steel railway tracks, steel train wheels, trucks dogged down hard equals no give, hence the lower part of the wheel bearings sustaining damage. So I guess doing it the way they do now eliominates this. Hope i have explained this .

thanks for the great pics Mr T

You're welcome!

Cheers!

Hey Detective,
A few details on the Sweeney KW with the 1693TA and extended hood.
Was in Pt Hedland until the late 90s maybe 2000 and belonged to a guy called Andy Stacey.
When he sold his business up there it apparently sat for a while until sold and it went to Esperence in about 2006.
No further info at the moment.
The guy who gave me the info was at the RTHOF in 2005 and saw a large poster of it on the wall.
When he was back there in 2010 he cant remember seeing the poster.
Best i can do but its getting closer.

g'day clarkie .. that's fantastic news considering i'd heard other reports of the truck having a cab fire or a similar horrible affliction years ago

...as mentioned, in about July 1982 it was up that neck of the woods... first when we saw her at Sandfire Flat and a few hours later it was pulling into Broome... as we were on the road out on that Saturday afternoon...

...a bit more info... in that Ridolfo's took over what remained of the Wesfarmers/ Gascoyne Trading operations and that info may also lead us down a few more blind alleys .....cheers mate

Ok Detective,i have an update.
Kenworth chassis # 400501 is alive and well.
Confirmed with current owner.
1693 is long gone and not known where.
Had a Cat 3506 at one stage,currently running a cummins 855.
Has a RTO12513 gearbox that came from a wreck.
Diffs are ST170s they fitted a few years ago.
Has been seen pulling triples around the traps.
I am travelling to SA over Easter so may try and head down that way to grab a pic.

g'day fellas .. with a little detective work, and a lot of clarkie440's legwork... this is what can come to light with the friendly collaboration that makes this forum so very special...

......65 kays east of Esperance at a little place named Condingup resides a very rare and unusual Kenworth.....the same one photographed by myself more than thirty years ago, and until the last couple of days....was living in blessed obscurity....

....very special thanks to clarkie440 for the re-discovery of this fantastic old gem.... ....and more photos and info to follow.....cheers

Ok tective
Gr8 Pix

But U need 2 fill us in
Wot year
wot model
wot power plant

n how many rivets

LOL

cya