Construction of Turnpike Lane Station, 1920s

Comment by cavendishmark on February 15, 2023 at 14:09

This could be my great grandad driving this. My dad used to have a picture of him standing next to this lorry/wagon. My dad used to think it was taken at regents park but later thought it was Ducketts Common - which would obviously line up with this picture.

I will have to dig it out of the garage!

Comment by K. E. Hubbard on February 16, 2023 at 22:58

The poster on the far right shows Billy Cotton & his Ciro's Club Band at the London Palladium.

He played at Ciro's between 1929 & 1931with a three month break in Paris.

This may help date the photograph.

Comment by Richard Woods on February 17, 2023 at 11:11

Excavating a station like that back then must have been a huge task. I note the splendid lorry has solid tyres and an interesting linkage at the rear. 

Comment by Don on February 17, 2023 at 11:58

Great picture — a steam lorry in action… Were they in common use or just for specialist businesses?

Comment by Richard Woods on February 18, 2023 at 14:08

I was interested as I actually saw a couple in use when I was a kid. This is interesting:

http://www.igg.org.uk/gansg/00-app1/rt-combk.htm

Comment by Gordon T on February 19, 2023 at 14:02

And here, Richard, is a restored lorry of the same design with dual rear wheels and that linkage (load-equalizing beam for uneven ground, perhaps). Built by The Sentinel Waggon Company (always waggon!).

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWHqmrxu010

Comment by Richard Woods on February 19, 2023 at 14:32

Fascinating - thank you very much. Nice coincidence- waggon from Lewes where my uncle edited the Sussex Express and County Herald and where my brother trained as a hack!

Comment by Hugh on February 20, 2023 at 10:00

Thanks for that Gordon. Brings the picture to life. Any idea why they were still running steam wagons in the 1920s?

Comment by cavendishmark on February 20, 2023 at 10:25

A comment from my late dad on his Facebook page says "They were still using those wagons in the 30's for heavy jobs. I remember my grandfather telling me how glad he was when they doubled the speed limit in the early days."

Comment by Richard Woods on February 20, 2023 at 12:00

When I saw one running (not working!) in the 50s my neighbour, an HGV driver, said they had phenomenal pulling power. 

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