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| Photographer / Copyright: Derek Everson Images should not be reused without permission. Date added to site:08/12/20 | ||
| Details: Ford Cargo dropside 2398F was another lorry to be on display during the 11th August 1985 open day at Chiswick Works, and a photograph taken then has already been published. This view has been added as it shows a nice comparison between the Ford lorry designs of the 1980s and the 1960s. 2398F was one of six Ford Cargo lorries new in autumn 1983 with A---SJD registrations. Four of the six were Cargo 1613 lorries with long dropside bodies and no tail-lifts, the other pair comprising a short dropside (2408F) and a box truck (2404F). 2398F was one of the longest-lived of the London Transport Ford Cargos, managing a creditable thirteen years before disposal in 1996. As the next couple of photos show, it underwent some changes during that time. Parked behind is 1282F, a Ford Thames Trader box truck new in 1963 as one of a trio of auxiliary breakdown tenders. 1282F was later converted into a Communications Vehicle and remained in use until replaced by Ford A0609 van 2086F in 1982. As the last survivor of over 130 Ford Thames Traders bought by London Transport, 1282F was retained as a semi-preserved vehicle. It was restored by apprentices and repainted into Chiswick Green livery as worn by many of LT's Traders (though ironically never carried by 1282F itself). Displayed at various events, it was kept at Chiswick Works then at Acton Works before being sold for continued preservation in 2008. There are lots of photos on Flickr of this truck taken since, showing it at various locations and with various registration numbers, liveries and states (some without the box body), and its current status is not known. Finally, at the far right is part of AEC Mercury tower wagon 89Q. As a photo taken the following day shows, work on restoring the bodywork of this vehicle was at a fairly early stage, and the actual tower was yet to be refitted. | ||
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