B red bu ry, Stockport
Page 28
Page 29
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
By Ashley Taylor • A dozen and a half British Railways trailers provided a useful filler at the opening of the official testing station at Bredbury but there was also a steady stream of other vehicles. First impression was of a bit of official niggardliness. After spending many thousands of pounds in providing the station it would have been worth setting up more than a couple of signposts in the immediate vicinity. Since the establishment is well away from the centre of Bredbury it will not be surprising if drivers, involved in heavy traffic, end up by going many miles out of their way and consequently miss their appointments. As this station has been opened for voluntary tests since May, Tuesday's visitors seemed well aware of the drill. Under the eyes of Mr. A. B. Turner, Station Manager, and Mr. S. Hilton, lane supervisor, the first vehicle for test was driven through the doors at 9 a.m. by which time three trailers had already emerged into the departure park. It was a loaded 1949 Leyland 12131 four-wheeler, rated at 12 tons gross and owned by Ellis Jones and Co. (Stockport) Ltd., chemical manufacturers. The company's fitter was in the offing in case any minor adjustments might be called for but except for taping a loose wire he had an easy turn. He told Commercial Motor that prior to coming for test the vehicle had been thoroughly checked against the TRTA test sheet. There was a slight hold-up in identification of the model and from this and other incidents it is obvious that a clear manufacturers' plate is essential and not one that has been heavily painted over. Keeping an eye on the general situation was Mr. N. E. Jones, area mechanical engineer (goods vehicles), who would be the first avenue of appeal (fee L15) for any aggrieved operator. Appeals, one would hazard a guess, might more likely concern identification decisions than anything else. Incidentally, had there been any representative of the industry present on Tuesday he might have learnt something of users' thoughts on both identification and accessibility of vehicles generally.
Before 9.45 a.m. that well-kept Ellis Jones veteran had gone through the routine and 10 minutes later was officially passed out but with a tyre limitation (on account of size in relation to weight) restricting it to speeds below 40 mph. The MoT "decal" affixed to the cab showed the month when the vehicle is due for re-inspection, although it will not have to return until 1970, when annual tests commence.
Next in line at Bredbury was a fully loaded 12-year-old Leyland eight-wheeled tanker, a stand-by unit from Smith's of Eccles Ltd., which required a slight adjustment while in the test lane in order to be on the safe side.