Southern Electricity Board 1950s to
1960s
Southern Electricity Board operated a wide range of Land-Rovers,
probably moreso than any other board - most of my information concerns
the SEB 1 Ton 109"s, as I own one and a handful have survived in
various forms.
SEB also operated Forward controls, but it does seem that most of
their vehicles were more road-going vans such as Austin Minivans or
Bedfords. They later operated Reynold Boughton RB44 4x4 Trucks and 4x4
Bedford vans. SEB Covered the district from the south coast up to
Oxford through Reading, Dorset, Southampton, Swindon and others.
SEB is now part of Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE).
The initial colour scheme for Southern Electricity Board vehicles
was mid-emerald green (possibly known as Beldene green) with gold sign
writing as seen on this long-wheel base series I.
This early Series II 109" was used around the Oxford area. The
chassis number was 151001519.
This 109" Series IIA is possibly one of the earliest cherry picker
conversions on a Land-Rover. The vehicle dates from 1966 at the latest
as that is when the new light green colour scheme was introduced.
This is a slightly later IIA cherry picker dating from no earlier
than 1966. The cherry picker appears to be made by Simon and it is
equiped with a one-man bucket. The deep sills under the doors were
changed to shallow ones in 1969.
An early 1960s Bedford RL, repainted in the post-1966 colours.
SEB Series IIA 1 Ton 109" Now undergoing renovation. NBK148G was
one of a batch registered in Portsmouth in 1969. This vehicle was
equiped with hydraulic winch and ladder rack and it was used for
overhead line maintenance. The 1-Ton payload model introduced in 1969
allowed companies to carry a heavier payload and still comply with the
law. NBK148G is the oldest known example of a 1-Ton Land-Rover.
A IIA 109" 1-Ton based Liveline cherrypicker vehicle.
1971 SEB Series IIB Forward Control Cherrypicker, based at Yeovil
depot. Sadly no longer with us in complete form.
Here a series IIA 1-Ton Land-Rover is maintained at Oxford depot
workshop.