"The Trailer" (as TM413 was always known) was relocated after the demise of GDSF and is now based at Longstock Rally. Shown here are some highlights from her days at GDSF.

TM413 being made ready for one of her daily outings in the GDSF PlayPen.

Changing the donkey engine

Emergency repairs on site

The Trailer was steered by a diesel donkey engine mounted above the rear bogey. If that failed, the Trailer went nowhere. The pictures below show what happened the year the donkey did fail but we managed to buy a replacement from a friendly Matador owner.

and into the Trailer

The Trailer has a diesel donkey to steer the rear bogie. One day it failed but a friendly Matador owner had one which he was prepared to sell. The only difference was that the Matador's was dirty green, whereas the Trailer's was dirty blue.

The dead donkey engine being removed from TM413

Replacement donkey being removed from 'donor' Matador.

...and is swung into place...

The late
Chris Thomas

who did so much to maintain and preserve TM413

Chris was an established part of Diesel Heavy Haulage when I joined in about 2003. He was the recognised steersman for TM413 and the go to guru on any technical issue relating to the Trailer.