"THE LONG HA
Page 54
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
-L" ALEYLAND Octopus eight-wheeler with 125 b.h.p. oil engine and a rear-axle ratio of 6.5 to 1—a ratio employed for fast trunk haulage—has undergone merciless treatment in making the film, "The Long Haul' (The Commercial Motor, March 8),
The story, dealing with a racketeer haulier who was . carrying a load of stolen furs, required the vehicle to strike off the main roads in Argyllshire to avoid a police cordon. The driver takes the wrong turning and ploughs over mountain tracks and almost impassable country towards the coast.
Based mainly at Tyndrum, the octopus did its cross-country work and river crossings principally in the Glen
Etive and Glen Orchy districts. In crossing a river 11 miles from the nearest road, a large boulder became wedged under the rear bogie, lifting the wheels on one side clear of the river bed. AS no salvage equipment was available, the Marksman Film Unit, who were making the film, had to abandon the vehicle in midstream for the night.
Rain and melting snow turned the river into a torrent. Water rose to a height of more than 4 ft. and entered the fuel tank and engine. When the Water had subsided to about 2 ft. 6 in., Mr. Richard Rainer, a Leyland engineer who accompanied the lorry, had to clean the tank, fuel pump and filters in midstream. The engine then started immediately.
Afterwards, in crossing rivers, first gear was engaged and the vehicle was driven into the water fairly quickly: If it struck a boulder, reverse gear Was engaged immediately, and then the vehicle was driven forward on a different track. Quick reversing was essential because, if the vehicle was left standing for even a moment, the .wneel would tend to sink and displace adjacent boulders; which the current rolled between the wheels.
At one stage the vehicle had to climb about 2,000 ft. up a narrow track on the steep mountainside of Ben Lawers, 4 with a clear drop of 200 ft. on the near side. For the purposes of the film it was necessary for the near-side rear wheels to overhang the ledge.
Gradients as steep as 1 in were climbed, and the only limiting factor was lack of tyre adhesion on loose surfaces. It was necessary to carry 4 tons of ballast over the rear bogie.