National Transport Trust

09/09/2025

12/02/2025

Please participate in the crucial National Historic Vehicle Survey and keep transport heritage on our roads

The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) have recently launched a " fact finding" set of online surveys which they hope will better enable them to recognise your needs when it comes to assisting with a range of issues, not least legislation and policy making

It might seem a bit of a faff, but the Federation are not mind readers, and we all owe it to each other to complete the relevant survey (and there are 3)

It matters not if you are a "restoration professional" an individual vehicle owner, or a museum or event organiser - your feedback is not just important, it is vital.

So please. follow the link and invest 10 minutes of your time
completing the survey

Oh, and please share this with as many others as you can

Thank you

https://fbhvc.co.uk/survey

PS the picture is just to catch your eye!!

23/10/2024

Restoration Awards again...

Anyone can have their project considered for a restoration award, and recognised by the nations Transport Heritage trust, as well as potentially receiving a financial award.

It is dead easy to apply or nominate, go to this part of the web and simply fill the application in on line. But hurry, entries close soon!…
https://www.nationaltransporttrust.org.uk/awards

To whet your appetite here is another of this years line up, an unusual item from WW2, a Loyd Carrier - TT (TT stands for Tracked Towing)

Another Lincolnshire project (it must be something in the air) is this super rare wartime tracked carrier restored by Alastair McMurray of Lincoln

This Loyd Carrier was designed by the Vivian Loyd company in 1939 and approved for production in 1940. It is an open topped, fully tracked utility vehicle, tank support vehicle and Anti-Tank gun towing vehicle. (it was built in a number of different versions for the aforementioned tasks). The restoration is of a Ford built towing version recovered from an army firing range as a wreck. And what a wreck...

The Loyd is a prime example of the British rush to build vehicles, any vehicles, in the dark days of 1940. Loyds were issued to all Divisions for D-Day, and served through to VE Day across North West Europe. This particular Loyd was sold to the Belgian Army post-war to help them re-arm. But as time went by it ended up as a target on a range. Only one partly complete Loyd survives in a UK National Museum today.

Having stripped the wreck down in 2010/1 Alistair began the task of locating missing or damaged parts from around the world, the tracks for instance came from New Zealand. Firstly the rolling chassis was completed and then a new hull was drawn up from surviving sections. Alistair has compiled over 100 drawings for missing parts and these have been given freely to people around the world who are attempting Loyd restorations. In 2023 it was driven for the first time. Like many modern restorations progress has a strong Social Media following.

The final step in the project is to have a canvas hood manufactured An original New Old Stock hood in a private museum which Alistair has been lucky enough to borrow in order to be to be copied and thus complete the project. The Loyd is a very rare survivor which all those taking part in the D-Day invasion through to VE-Day would have been familiar with. It represents the 1940s spirit to make do and mend as well as having input from so many now defunct British engineering firms. As such it is a fine recipient of a restoration award.

16/10/2024

Let's have a look at a another restoration recognised at this years awards. As you know, anyone can apply to have their project considered for a restoration award, which, as well as the kudos of being recognised by the nations pre-eminent Transport Heritage trust, comes, in most cases, with a nice cheque.

It is easy to apply or nominate, go to this part of the web and simply fill the application in on line. But hurry, entries close soon!

https://www.nationaltransporttrust.org.uk/award-form/awardform/22_apply-for-a-restoration-award

This year saw an award go to the wonderful 1939 Leyland Cub FK8 fire engine owned by Richard Loudon of Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire and restored with the help of Barrie Seeley.

This project sees the restoration of Richards 'home town fire engine' after it had been resting in a barn in Lincolnshire for almost 50 years. It is a classic open cab pump ladder with crew of two and up to a further six on the running boards. The ladder is actually older than this pump but typical of the types carried, and they were interchangeable. It was new to Scunthorpe Borough Fire Brigade in August 1939 delivered one month before the outbreak of WW2.

Richard served over 32 years as a firefighter at Scunthorpe Fire station retiring in 2007. One of only 2 pieces of Scunthorpe fire station equipment are known to have survived. The workmanship on the visible parts is of a very high standard and the restorers have retained original material where possible but lino and upholstery have been fully replaced, as has new wiring, a replacement fuel tank (the original leaked), and the engine fully overhauled. Mudguards have had plates welded in where rust was excessive and similar repairs elsewhere. Paint is of a very high standard as is the signwriting, all the more impressive as work was undertaken largely by torchlight as the engine was stored in a part of the shed with very poor lighting. Being a seasoned fire-fighter Richard claims he knows who was responsible for every dent and scrape!

This fine old appliance has returned to its home town after over 55 years away. Other than the coachpainting and lining it has been completed by the owner and a friend both of whom are of state pension age. It is a 'brass finish appliance' and as such requires constant attention to lots of brasswork to keep it up to standard

An excellent addition to the 2024 awards line-up