GM Semis

[Bob B.]

Southern Pacific Taylor Yard, Los Angeles. Wanna hear a story?

That was called 'circus loading'. Special flatcars made for 'piggy back' trailer on flatcar intermodal service. S.P. used a system called the Clejan Dolly. The flatcar had tracks on it and the semitrailer had special rollers that rode on the tracks and were also used to lock the trailer on the flatcar. A tractor could back down multiple flatcars to pick up the trailers, and the tractors were also guided by the rails on the flatcars. So, backing in a straight line down the flatcars was not as difficult as it seemed. Now, Southern Pacific thought this system was really great, because only trailers owned by their own trucking subsidiary Pacific Motor Trucking had Clejan equipment. So, it you wanted to use S.P.'s intermodal service, you had to use Pacific Motor Trucking too! Worked well to S.P.'s favor for many years, but eventually other railroads used different equipment so they could carry anyone's trailers. Fun while it lasted.

S.P. had a lot of GMC's over the years. All 3 GM plants in California were served by the Southern Pacific, and S.P. also used a lot of G.M. EMD diesel locomotives. Must have gotten great deals on all that stuff!

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by Bob B.

So, it you wanted to use S.P.'s intermodal service, you had to use Pacific Motor Trucking too!

Here's a good example of one of PMT's delivery trucks. Note wide front fenders on this '64 C 80, not a common site on '63-66 Chevys.

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Nice looking heavy truck.

Also notice the typical West Coast Budd Wheels.

[Bob B.]

Wonder if that Chevy was a tractor or a straight truck.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by Bob B.

Wonder if that Chevy was a tractor or a straight truck.

Good question. IMO, it must be a tractor since it's a 80 series. Most pickup and delivery PMT's I've seen were 60 series or GMC 4000 series. Here is an action shot of a heavy GMC (note V6 emblem seen on front of hood) crossing the Bay Bridge into San Francisco in the 60's.

[Bob B.]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Good question. IMO, it must be a tractor since it's a 80 series. Most pickup and delivery PMT's I've seen were 60 series or GMC 4000 series. Here is an action shot of a heavy GMC (note V6 emblem seen on front of hood) crossing the Bay Bridge into San Francisco in the 60's.

That's what I was thinking. S.P. seemed to like tandem axle gas tractors, I have seen S.P. GMC, International and Ford tandem axle tractors with gas engines from that era.

Thanks for posting those pictures!

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Most likely a 6500.

Good picture.

[regan wilson]

[special-K]

WOW! That picture looks like it was taken yesterday. Two great examples in Woodland Green. Quite a load on that dump

[C10 - C90 Bill]

Nice example of a late 50's heavy.

[davischevy]

Man that brings back memories. In 1959, My dad bought a new 59 C10 8' stepside, Woodland Green, at Claude Parrish Chevrolet in Liberty, MO.

[Bob B.]

Looks like a proving ground photo.

[MJN]

Heres a picture thats hanging on the wall at work. Nice old GMC loaded up.

[5Tractorguy]

[Nobighurry]

Well, I thought I was going to get this, but hauling it just is going to be too costly. Would love to restore this- maybe even convert to a 10 wheel tractor. Hope it goes to someone worthy.
https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/i...ery=1956%20gmc

[regan wilson]

[regan wilson]

[KQQL IT]

Insta grabs

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

Insta grabs

Thanks for posting the fleet photo shot. Trucks are never boring, so many different configurations!

[special-K]

Originally Posted by KQQL IT

Insta grabs

Post# 2054. People these days wonder how those tractor trailers managed to haul using those old 6 cyls. In this picture it shows the seating position drivers used back then to make the trucks go faster.

[Bob B.]

Originally Posted by special-K

Post# 2054. People these days wonder how those tractor trailers managed to haul using those old 6 cyls. In this picture it shows the seating position drivers used back then to make the trucks go faster.

Either he was trying to go faster or he dropped his Moon Pie under the seat!

[special-K]

How about those two heavy Chevys in front with dual stacks? I bet they are 409s. Well, that's my guess. They appear to be that companies heavy hitters. Did GM put Toroflows in Chevys?

[Bob B.]

Originally Posted by special-K

How about those two heavy Chevys in front with dual stacks? I bet they are 409s. Well, that's my guess. They appear to be that companies heavy hitters. Did GM put Toroflows in Chevys?

Yes, they did. It looks like those tandems have Toro-Flow badges on their hoods too. Also the staining on the fuel tanks looks like diesel. The 478 Toro-Flow was the engine in the '65-'66 V-80 tandems.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by Bob B.

Yes, they did. It looks like those tandems have Toro-Flow badges on their hoods too. Also the staining on the fuel tanks looks like diesel. The 478 Toro-Flow was the engine in the '65-'66 V-80 tandems.

Yep, you nailed it again. So accustom to seeing the GMC version, completely forgot about the Chevy counterpart. IMO, these trucks must be super rare today, they had very low production numbers when new.

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by Bob B.

The 478 Toro-Flow was the engine in the '65-'66 V-80 tandems.

Hey Bob, I've been doing a little more digging and discovered it may be a '65 only cab design, which it would make it even more of a rare oddity. In '66, the conventional cab was replaced with the newer shorter cab design v80.