Friday 17 July 2009

Unexpected Alphabet No.11

Trying to hide in a Northamptonshire field at Wakerley, the final resting place of an Atlas Express Carriers articulated wagon. 'Atlas', 'Express', two words turned by bucolic retirement into oxymorons; when once they were a familiar message on 'trunk' roads and in station yards. I have seen these fading green truck bodies elsewhere in the neighbourhood, obviously a job lot in the same way as old railway wagons, shorn of their wheels and distributed over the countryside in order to live again as hay stores and pony stables. I particularly like the way that inclement weather is slowly revealing the previous livery underneath. But what do we know about them? I've got a feeling they were one of the first hauliers to take to the roads after the deregulation of the business- the demise of BRS with their beautiful red or green lorries crested with the British Railways lion badge. Or I might be talking out of my roped-down tarpaulin.

9 comments:

accountant said...

I'm sad enough to have looked up BRS on Wikipedia, there is no mention of Atlas Express.

Bucks Retronaut said...

I hope this isn`t too off-message to qualify as an oxymoron but I recently saw beautifully painted and amongst all the other stuff on the cab doors of a huge artic on the M25 the words "TO INFINITY AND BEYOND".....back on Friday .

I liked that.

Philip Wilkinson said...

Ah, Atlas. First he held up the heavens. Then he held up the traffic. Then he was held up in a farmyard.

Peter Ashley said...

Marvellous Wilko.

williamandemma said...

Looking beyond the logo... I am rather enamoured by the four types of corrugation on show - they make for a rather fabulous texture.

Peter Ashley said...

Oh yes. Unmitigated England has more than its fair share of the corrugated stuff.

Thud said...

At least it isn't advertising 'cheap laminate flooring' like most I seem to whizz past on the m62.

Busman said...

I worked for Atlas for about 6 years and might well have hauled some of those trailers you saw around. Please see my Facebook page 'We worked for Atlas Express - The Carriers'

Neil Treadway 2010 Ironman said...

The shot of the Atlas Express trailer brings back lots of good childhood memories... My dad drove for them and I remember riding along in those green lorries. Thank you.