Page 3. SD Enthusiasts' Club Newsletter - Winter 2011.
THE EDITOR'S POSTBAG.
A Freightlifter Dualdrive in Hull.
By email Glenn Ramsden wrote to say that in the 1970's he worked for a transport company in Hull driving an old SD Freightlifter fork truck. Glenn says that it was bought secondhand and was used for stacking shipping containers three high. It had two cabs on it one to operate the fork truck from and the other to use driving the device on the road.
Glenn was asking for any information on such a machine. I was able to supply him with photos and details of the Dualdrive Model 100. Glenn replied: " I was beginning to think I'd imagined things!" My guess is that the Freightlifter was formerly with British Road Services. As so often happened this SD gave stirling service many years after it left Letchworth.
The first Freighlifter Model 100 Dualdrive.
Demonstration Memories.
Barrie Woods, who was an SD demonstrator driver has been looking through his photos and kindly sent some copies to me.
The first photo shows him at the wheel of "my much loved TBN Demonstrator", in Barnstable in 1970 where he had a wonderful week travelling all over north Devon.
Having almost tipped the whole vehicle rearwards, as the load had stuck, Barrie couldn't resist the chance to get this shot which vividly shows the kind of situation one could get into with tipping bodies! Also taken at Barnstable in 1970.
Barrie also tells me he still has a few copies of 'Municipal Refuse Collection Vehicles' in the Nostalgia Road series for sale. Barrie wrote this in 1999 and I recommend it to readers. I'll put you in touch with Barrie if you contact me.
A Surviving Defiant.
A correspondent wrote in by email after he had carried out an annual safety check on a Defiant fork truck. Still in regular use in a boatyard on Hayling Island the truck bears the chassis number HS80/10DS13. It is believed that this truck is ex-military as a further plate bears a broad arrow and the date 1972.
Great to hear of another surviving SD product.
From Northern Ireland.
Peter Johnston has sent in details from Irish Vintage Scene magazine of November 2011 which features the three SD vehicles which he owns. The Freighter Reg. No. MI 2721 is shown resplendent in McCreath Taylor livery after a complete restoration by James McAleer of Fintona. We reported on the restoration in our Summer 2011 issue. Our thanks are due to Peter for keeping the Shelvoke name alive in Northern Ireland.
Defiant Fork Truck at Rotherham.
Following the report in our last issue Duncan Osborne has sent in a photo showing a new cab door on the Defiant fork truck at the South Yorkshire Transport Museum.
