Coras Iompair Eireann (literally Ireland's Transport System) assumed a virtually monopoly of rail and passenger road transport in the Republic of Ireland in 1945. Like the situation then existing in the UK, it had a 'common carrier' responsibility to convey whatever goods to wherever they were required. In order to do this it operated a large fleet of supporting road vehicles, some very specialised and others more mundane.
Although based on a preserved vehicle in the UK, I hope that this digitally modified view conveys something of the charm of rural Ireland in an era where milk was still transported in traditional churns by roads and by rail. The Fordson Thames 7V flatbed lorry was typical of the immediate post-war era. Compact by comparison with normal control-types, the protruding engine must have created a very cramped cab, although the young passengers do not seem to be greatly inconvenienced here.
I'm grateful to Shane Conway for advising that there were left and right-handed versions of the 'flying wheel logo' logo - the rationale being that, on the sides of buses and trucks, the top bars always pointed forward (updated 24-Jan-10).
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