Pictured, the Rhodes Ridley an Australian built prime mover. This truck with its trailers could have revolutionised ore haulage with previously unheard of carrying capacities. When completed in 1958 she was the largest truck in the Southern Hemisphere and her output of 400 horsepower was double the standard horsepower of the day.
The story of the Rhodes Ridley is intriguing one told by Terry Joyce in his book ‘Lets build our own, the story of the Rhodes Ridley’ – Published by DFD Rhodes Pty Ltd.
Terry’s story of the Rhodes Ridley is briefly summarised in the dust cover of the book when in the early morning of October 1958 a crowd had gathered to watch the departure of the truck heavily laden with mining equipment bound for the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The Rhodes Ridley wasn’t the first truck to undertake this journey but she was certainly the largest.
The book documents the events of the trip and has many fine photos of the outback regions in WA and the difficulties the men who worked there faced. This should have been the start of a whole new era for this vehicle however beauracts stepped in and prevented the vehicle from fulfilling its role.
The book details the manganese mining sites the Rhodes Ridley serviced until it was eventually allocated the role of a stationary powerhouse at the Woodie Woodie manganese mine.
Here her engines and wheels were removed and she remained that way abandoned and derelict until her retrieval in August 1989. She was then pains takenly restored to her former glory four decades later, sixty years after leaving Welshpool and today is still the only one of her kind in the world.
Pictured: Terry Joyce and Bob Devlin securing the RR on Bob’s 1970 Mercedes 2624 with dual axle low loader at Woody Woody before it was taken to Port Hedland. Here it remained before coming back to Perth in 1998 where the restoration took place in the DFD Rhodes workshop in Kewdale.
Bill McConnell was an apprentice when he worked in the DFD Rhodes workshop with workshop manager Harold Ridley. He remembers the original construction of the truck and 40 years later spearheaded the the team that embarked on its restoration.
Bill is pictured here (front centre), with his team of ‘Apprentices’ Standing (L-R) Terry Joyce, Harold Brown, Doug Jones. Sitting: Ray Collins, Bill and Don Wilson.
Terry’s book pays tribute to the memory of Don Rhodes who was a pioneer in the development of Western Australia. Don came from humble beginnings and through his company DFD Rhodes Pty Ltd he made enormous contributions to the early development of the transport industry.
Don was honoured in the National Transport Hall of Fame reunion in Alice Springs in 2000. He was inducted into the Shell Rimula Hall of Fame. His citation read: Don Rhodes was responsible for building the first Australian Road Train in today’s sense of the word. His massive Rhodes Ridley truck revolutionised ore haulage bringing unheard of carrying capacities.
The book also describes the amazing ability of Harold Ridley who came to work for Don in 1950.
Harold was described as a ‘genius’ in his creativity and practical application, a self taught engineer who did not have trade qualifications. Harolds brilliance lay in his ability to design and conceive ways of doing things that the experts would have said impossible! He was the man who with Don Rhodes conceived, designed and built the Rhodes Ridley.
Pictured, the retrieval team, Bob Devlin and author of ‘Lets build our own’ Terry Joyce. Terry’s book also contains the anecdotes of the men who worked for DFD Rhodes and their admiration of their leader Don Rhodes who died in 1987. They felt the restoration of the Rhodes Ridley was a fitting tribute to Don and his achievements. Their achievements in restoring the vehicle are a little short of amazing!
The Rhodes Ridley has led a busy life since being restored, thrilling many spectators at country shows and heritage events. From the completion of the restoration in 2000 until the present the transport of the truck falls into the capable hands of Damien Rhodes using his Mack Ultraliner pulling a spreadable float of 75 tons capacity. This is a handsome combination that effectively showcases its cargo!
(Book sales and enquiries – DFD Rhodes Pty Ltd, 43 A Tennant St., Welshpool Western Australia 6106. Phone: (08) 9470 1200 Email: rhodesridley@dfdrhodes.com.au
This article is contributed by Alan Philip who has spent considerable time and effort in researching and visiting the sites where the Rhodes Ridley operated. He has met Terry Joyce at the home of the RR now at Dinninup and confirmed the restoration of the vehicle is magnificent. Since that time Terry has retired and is now living in Queensland.
This page is dedicated to the Vault Restaurant, proud sponsors of the Pickering Brook football Club.
21 Haynes Street Kalamunda WA 6076 Reservations: (08) 9468 6524 http://www.thevaultrestaurant.com.au
