6x6 Unipower Ballast Tractor (aka Hercules)
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One of the most striking heavy haulage units ever built was known as Hercules. It was named, owned and operated by Teesside-based Econofreight Heavy Transport. Powered by a 350 Cummins engine it worked not only in the UK but as far afield as Canada and the Middle East. The Unipower arrived at Econofreight’s Middlesbrough depot as a demonstrator, but the company liked it so much they bought it. Modifications were soon made, fitting an extended Volvo F-series Globetrotter cab to provide three berths for the driver and crew, as well as a kitchen area. Painted in Econofreight’s final eye-catching dark blue livery, Hercules was even the star of a documentary when it moved Antony Gormley’s famous Angel of the North statue to its position at Gateshead bypass. After Econofreight was absorbed into Staffs-based Abnormal Load Engineering, Hercules was repainted ALE red and was last spotted still working in the Middle East.
Rikki Chequer (Trucknet community manager)