Access the old fashioned way

Manchester based spider platform specialists Higher Access received a surprise visit from one of the UK's oldest vehicle mounted platforms.

The curators of the Greater Manchester Museum of Transport visited the Higher Access Manchester depot with a vintage Tower Wagon, the all timber scissor lift entered service in 1949 on a Leyland Titan PD2/4 chassis powered by a Leyland 9.8ltr engine. The vehicle mounted scissor had been a regular sight in and around Manchester and was operated by Bolton Corporation Transport, the truck was finally taken out of service in 1976.

The vehicle has a maximum speed of 35mph and the scissor lift is operated by manually turning a handle to elevate the platform, it is thought the vehicle's sole job was to inspect and maintain street lighting.

Paul Hyde Sales Manager for Higher Access said, "It was fantastic for the museum to bring their platform out to show us, we have a long relationship with the curators whom were visiting us to undertake training on one of our CS135 spider platforms, the truck certainly turned a few heads when it arrived at the depot, it's really great to see these kind of vehicles being used and not just as exhibits"

Anybody wishing to see the Tower Wagon can do so at Greater Manchester Transport Society Museum of Transport.