RITCHIE’S FLYER
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Stuart Ritchie of Hetton-le-Hole-based E&N Ritchie has fond memories of the company’s first Marathon – JPT 848N. His father Colin was running their diverse business, but it was at Stuart’s request that they bought the big Leyland. “We had long been big fans of AEC rigids for our long-distance vehicles,” says Stuart, “but rather than buy an AEC Mandator as our first artic, I persuaded my dad to buy the Marathon as it just looked the part. Although we did put an AEC badge on the front.” Given new to driver Malcolm Carr, this tractor unit did five years at E&N Ritchie, although during that time Stuart recalls the Leyland TL12 engine was never out of warranty, as it needed either replacing or major repairs every year.
When it was going, very few trucks could catch it: the Marathon was a great performer with a potential top speed of 75mph. It was a great truck to drive, but Stuart reckons there were a number of niggles. “The linkage on the Fuller gearbox was such that when pushing the lever into top gear, you had to be careful and not rap your fingers on the radio – it was that badly positioned,” he says.
The original Marathon footbrake saw a cable operate the foot valves mounted below the fifth wheel. “The brakes worked, but there was always a slight delay in them coming on – and going off.” Overall, Stuart still has a big smile on his face when he thinks back to the company’s first artic.
▲ Stuart Ritchie’s Marathon had the addition of an AEC badge