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2. Shelvoke & Drewry Enthusiasts' Club
Newsletter - Autumn 2018.
SNAPSHOTS FROM THE LIFE OF GJD 121 N
It’s hardly possible to believe that five of the six photos on this page are of the same chassis and cab.
Above
is an earlier version of one of several TN’s that SD developed for BP
to transport central heating oil in central London. Kaleidoscope of
Shelvoke & Drewry states that with its narrow 6’ 6” width the
little tanker could go virtually wherever a taxi could. Built in 1974 GJD121N
will have been very similar. I understand that SD had a difficult task
in reducing he engine noise in the cab to make the tankers acceptable
to BP. The driving pattern was very different from the frequent stop
start of a refuse collection vehicle. Photo courtesy of Ian Wyngarde.
This
photo shows the tanker being used as a fuel bowser in the mid to
late 1980’s by Cambridgeshire based Premier Travel coaches. Their
coaches were parked some way from the company’s main garage and the
little tanker transported diesel fuel to them.
We next find the tanker in a very sorry state and up for sale.
Michael
Cooper from Maybole in Ayrshire, Scotland, purchased it and in 2008 it
re-appears resplendent in the livery of the Burgh of Maybole with a
replica Chelsea type body. Photo courtesy of Michael Cooper.
Later
the vehicle passed into the hands of Peter Johnston of McCreath Taylor
(N.I.) who are based in Lisburn. This photo shows the vehicle with
additional sign writing when it became part of Peter’s growing fleet of
preserved SD vehicles.
Now
we see the vehicle in its latest guise as a tar tanker. Peter Johnston
and his son, David, had taken over McCreath Taylor in 1999 and the
company for the last 30 years has operated from their purpose-built
premises in Lisburn. They supply on hire: Scarab Sweepers, Hook
Loaders, Skip Loaders, Pedestrian operated Sweepers and Refuse
Collection Vehicles.
McCreath
Taylor & Co. Ltd. was formed in 1906 in Glasgow and also operated
in Dublin, Belfast and London. The company established a depot in
Belfast in 1925 and around that time became agents for Shelvoke &
Drewry. They were also agents for S&D in Scotland. But the company
were also tar importers and Peter Johnston has already restored a tar
boiler from the early 1900’s.
Peter
wanted the ex-BP tanker to reflect this part of the company’s history
and he has truly done it in style. Once again James McAleer and others
have done a magnificent restoration and in mid-August the vehicle had
its first public outing.
The smartest SD cab ever?
The
tanker even looks lovely from behind.The four aluminium coloured caps
on the rear of the tank represent the heating elements that were a
feature of this type of tar tanker. These heaters could only be used
when the vehicle was stationary and used either oil or gas to heat the
tar. The above three photos courtesy of Tommy Moore.
