Princess Anne presents National Transport Trust award to Ringwood for timber carriage restoration

A RINGWOOD man has been recognised for his painstaking restoration of a rare 1932 timber carriage.

Princess Anne presented James Loader with the National Transport Trust restoration award for his work on the Taskers of Andover carriage.

Award judges said James is “rightfully proud” of his work, adding: “Such were the conditions and harsh working environment where mistreatment and poor conditions during their working life in woodlands and muddy conditions, means that only a tiny handful of these carriages survived.

“This particular example is the telescopic example of which even fewer have made it into the present day.”

The judges said the now very rare trailer was used for bringing felled trees from their original site, using an extended chassis to allow for carrying longer trunks.

The carriage’s front axle and drawbar slews on a circular base without the use of bearings, with the trunks loaded using a crane device.

The National Transport Trust’s awards director Paul Brook said: “As ever with something like this the original ‘things to do’ list was lengthy.

“Chassis framework, axles, brakes, leaf springs and even nuts, bolts and fasteners have all required considerable attention. But clearly James is a bit of a stickler for detail; new old-stock British standard nuts and bolts have been sourced and used in the restoration throughout, an increasingly difficult and expensive task.

“This has enabled small details such as the direction of bolts to be refitted in the same orientation. All parts have been cleaned and painted in the original colour scheme of deep bronze green.

“While this is a relatively simple and utilitarian piece of equipment, the care which has gone into preparing this relic of a now lost rural heritage for public viewing is very deserving of a National Transport Trust restoration award.”