Amateur footage filmed by an employee or owner of Siddle C. Cook Ltd (Heavy Haulage Division) of Consett CO. Durham showing various large pieces of heavy engineering being transported by road across the region. Large steel girders and tanks produced by the likes of Vickers-Armstrong (Engineering) Ltd, Redheugh Iron and Steel and Durham Iron and Steel feature. The film also features shots of the companies vehicles parked up at their depot at Consett. The film opens showing a large trailer...

Amateur footage filmed by an employee or owner of Siddle C. Cook Ltd (Heavy Haulage Division) of Consett CO. Durham showing various large pieces of heavy engineering being transported by road across the region. Large steel girders and tanks produced by the likes of Vickers-Armstrong (Engineering) Ltd, Redheugh Iron and Steel and Durham Iron and Steel feature. The film also features shots of the companies vehicles parked up at their depot at Consett. The film opens showing a large trailer and the name of the haulage company to which it belongs. The company name, Siddle C Cook & Company appears along the edge of the vehicle’s flatbed trailer. A tractor unit at the head of this trailer reverses into a yard opposite a Salvation Army building. The streets nearby are narrow with terraced housing making manoeuvring difficult. The film shows the substantial size of the load. The film moves on to another tractor unit pulling a trailer carrying a large cylindrical load, wooden support strips surround it. An open road runs through a suburb and another heavy load is slowly hauled on its way slow, this time the load is a large steel beam. A bogie supports the rear end of the beam and lights flash on the top of the cabin of the tractor. A view follows of a similar load parked and waiting to be moved. A six-wheel tractor hauls a large cylinder-shaped load. The manoeuvre attracts a lot of attention and it makes slow progress from the manufacturers yard. Another large load is carefully coaxed around a tight corner in town. Once out onto the very wet open road it makes faster progress. A rather dark view follows of a metal structure being transported along an open road, eventually making its way down a side road. A view taken from a higher vantage point shows the load travelling down a road which has a shallow curve to the right. In bright sunshine two tractor units pull a large pipe mounted between two trailer bogie units. A notice on one side of the pipe reads: “Another Product of Vickers Armstrong Engineers Ltd” On the open road a different load makes slow progress. Going past a pub advertising Youngers Beer, this large metal structure makes its way along roads surrounded by what may be Consett steelworks. Another vessel on the move is a large metal torpedo like structure, which is being coaxed around a corner. The tractor and its load make slow progress up an incline. A brief view follows of another beam coming out of a large work shed, the film then moves on to a view of parked tractor units which presumably represents the whole fleet of Siddle Cook vehicles. All have Siddle Cook Ltd, Consett, Co. Durham painted on the drivers cab and other parts of the vehicle. Another long load is slowly manoeuvred into a road, possibly within Consett steelworks. The load makes gradual progress with men checking the wheels and the security of the load as it makes its way. A view follows of a load being hauled on a cold and frosty morning. The film cuts to brighter weather and a large container or hopper is manoeuvre by a reversing tractor. The load is wide which makes the manoeuvre difficult. The film moves on to a parked tractor unit nearby with a load of a large steel beam between two bogies, this is parked not far from the hopper. A sequence of black and white still photographs show pictures from the company’s past. The pictures show old tractor vehicles and other equipment, and a variety of loads the firm has been asked to move over the years, including sea going fishing boats. The colour film continues as a large set of caterpillar tracks is hauled along a country road by one the firm’s tractor units. Another load follows on with another heavy load, both loads appear to belong to a mobile crane or excavator. The film moves on showing a tractor unit turning into a tight corner hauling cylinder shaped vessel which is enclosed at both ends. Another view follows of the slow-moving load in bright sunshine. A much darker view follows of a tractor unit hauling a loaded trailer full of what may be steel girders. Next a Foden tractor unit pulls a load of what appear to be bridge sections along a main road. A stationary view shows that the tractor unit is from a different firm called Elliott, the name Elliott and York denoting the firm’s location appear on the drivers cab above the windscreen. One of the bogies supporting the load is finished in the familiar red colour of Siddle Cook, it’s possible this piece of equipment is on loan or on hire to the York company. A view from underneath the load looking upwards shows the gap between the two bridge sections. Views show details of the bogies and the mechanisms securing the load. A brief view shows a complete change of scene and subject, as the film shows a large house with a well-kept lawn and garden. The film goes back to the main topic of heavy haulage showing a large load making slow progress along a slightly inclined road. The film moves on to show a large cylindrical vessel being hauled by two tractor units, one behind the other. The load is about to turn from a side road from a main road. Workmen position themselves at the front and back of the vehicle to ensure the manoeuvre takes place without incident. The front of the vehicle turns into the side road, workmen run round the vehicle checking everything is secure as the vehicle makes progress. The load then crosses a main road, workmen stop traffic while this takes place. The final short section also has a soundtrack, although it is very muffled and indistinct. The film shows the Siddle Cook fleet along with a commentary in brief snippets. Mention is made of the use of a telephoto lens to film from an office window. These views of the Siddle Cook fleet end the film.