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That was the year...
Page 16
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CM was launched in 1905; for our centenary year we're bringing you stories from years gone by. This week we're back in 1947 and 1997.
1947
The first protractile transistor was produced by Bell Labs, and aliens landed at Roswell,New Mexico.The American authorities still deny that one of these events took place. Prussia ceased to exist; Pakistan was born. In aviation, Chuck Yeager broke the sound harrier and Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose flew for eight minutes at a slightly slower speed. Inventions include the Frisbee, microwave oven and AK47 assault rifle.
End of transport as we knew it
The unpopularity of the Transport Bill was highlighted by some 800 amendments; a record which has yet to be broken. CM was concerned "that an industry noted for its efficiency and civil service should not be handed over to the Civil Service". Even quoting Magna Carta failed to stop the new laws.
Road transport to the rescue
It was the worst winter in history, forcing a two-week suspension of publication of Commercial Motor for the first time in its history due to a national coal shortage that immobilised the railways. Road transport finally came to the rescue and got the country back to work.
Waste not, want not
Croydon's borough engineer. CE Boast,ran his fleet of 53 CVs on methane produced from the borough's sewage.
Taste of things to come
A forerunner of today's urban artics was the Thorneycroft Nippy, with a payload of nearly 10 tons. Its 68hp engine consumed a gallon of petrol every 11.2 miles.
1997
The star of 1997 was Dolly the cloned sheep; Bill Clinton banned funding into cloning research. America fired 24 former citizens into orbit for the first space burial. We said hello to South Park,Tony Blair and the Toyota Prins but goodbye to Princess Diana and Mother Teresa.
Hauliers' revenge
British hauliers planned to get their own back by blockading Dover in protest at the way they were treated in France and Spain.The row was based on the use of belly tanks for extra fuel.
What did you say?
New technology included adaptive cruise control and voice command systems.The latter still has to be mastered: football manager Alex Ferguson this week returned his Audi A8 because it can't understand his accent.
Praise where it's due
The Labour party, still in opposition, reaffirmed its implacable opposition to 44 tonnes for general haulage. Some people seemed to like trucks, though. At the end of its first year, 40% of calls to the "Well Driven?"campaign were in praise of drivers. A survey of truck drivers revealed that they were a bunch of softies, with 35% dreaming about going home rather than about sex. beer and fry-ups.
The Italian jobs
A major blow to the UK's truck manufacturing industry was Iveco Ford's decision to close its Langley factory and transfer Cargo production to Italy.