A LOST MOMENT IN TRUCKING HISTORY -- NAVAJO Freight Lines role in the "NAVAJO BROTHERHOOD CARAVAN"

I was recently doing some research for one of the forums I belong to and came across a series of pictures from the LIFE MAGAZINE photo archive that were labeled "NAVAJO BROTHERHOOD CARAVAN" and showed trucks from the NAVAJO truck lines delivering food and goods to the Navajo Indians of New Mexico.


The pictures were taken in 1947 and sparked my interest since I had spent part of a summer back in 66 in Ganado, Arizona in a Navajo Mission.


An internet inquiry into this event, which was also called "The Mile of Trucks" produced only two "hits".  The first was actually a mention of this incident coming from a UFO magazine ---

Food for Navajos

The event was in December of 
1947 and was called the “Navajo Brotherhood Caravan”
(or the “mile of trucks”) and 
ran supplies from Albuquerque to Gallup, 
NM. (roughly 90 miles south of Shiprock) 
where the Indians took possession of 
the supplies.  The Navajos were having a 
tough time of it and people throughout 
the state were helping out. 


The second "hit" came from an article that appeared in TIME MAGAZINE ----


INDIANS: Reprieve
Monday, Dec. 22, 1947

"Shocked at the discovery that the Navajo Indians face starvation and even death this winter (TIME, Nov. 3), the nation suddenly began sending them relief. The American Red Cross appropriated $100,000 for "immediate stopgap aid," rushed disaster relief workers to the barren Navajo country. A Navajo Trail Relief Caravan Association gathered up food and clothing in California, started seven truckloads on the way to the reservation. Utah citizens helped too. Congress, conscience-stricken after neglectful years, voted a $2,000,000 relief fund for the Navajo and Hopi tribes."




I think this is an important piece, and unfortunately a forgotten piece of trucking history. It must have produced  a great deal of pride for the NAVAJO truck line as it gave back to its' namesake, the NAVAJO nation.


What I can't believe, is the lack of further information about this event -- so that is where you, the reader, come in. If you have any stories about this or know more of the story, PLEASE share it by comment or email me!!!


In the meantime -- enjoy the pictures, courtesy of the LIFE archive --


NAVAJO RELIEF CARAVAN LEAVING PALM SPRINGS CALIFORNIA

THE MILE OF TRUCKS

COMING INTO TOWN

UNLOADING THE GOODS

Want Trucks???

Although I have had a FLIKR page for some time now, it was not till recently that it went PRO. I use FLIKR to store the truck pictures I take and those I find on the net. There are also many groups that I belong to, and those are linked to my FLIKR site. I also have organized my pictures in sets, so if you are a truck modeler looking for ideas check out my FLIKR page ---- get the picture??

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14024074@N05/

INTERSTATE MOTOR FREIGHT SYSTEM PROJECT

As I said in a previous post, I just recently obtained another memory from the past -- two kits from Round 2.
The first kit was the AMT Fruehauf 40' beaded trailer, which was done as a trailer for INTERSTATE MOTOR FREIGHT SYSTEM, a once big trucking concern that went out of business in 1984.

The second kit was also a Round 2 release -- the AMT Kenworth K 123. This kit actually contains the decals to finish the trailer and do the truck. You will notice in the attached video the erroneous addition of the newer logo to the truck cab -- that done because the truck is totally fictitious, IMFS apparently did not use Kenworths in their fleets.

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A Great Time for AMT/Round 2 -- Kenworth K-123 COE and Fruehauf Trailer

FINALLY!!!!

After waiting since last November, the AMT Kenworth is available along with another long awaited kit, the AMT Fruehauf Beaded Trailer. Both these kits were ordered from TOWER HOBBIES on line ---

The Kenny comes with decals to make the fallen flag carrier, INTERSTATE MOTOR FREIGHT SYSTEM. The Fruehauf comes with the old AMT decals along with new Round 2 decals and a car parts company.

I chose to do the IMFS truck and trailer -- truck will be overall orange with a silver trailer. The trailer is finished, will post pictures latter. Currently working on the truck, frame is complete and primed along with the cab shell.

This is a beautiful remake of the old AMT kit with few fit problems -- BUT YOU MUST PAY ATTENTION to the old instructions!!!

The "box" photo, is actually the display box included with the model -- you got to put that together too, have some super glue for that.

A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT --- NOTE LINK!!!!

Every once in a while I get the feeling that no one is looking at my blog, and then about that time I get one of those great e-mails from someone who has taken the time to not only comment, but also attach a very special gift.

I can not thank Curtis enough for this -- It will become my new and permanent header picture, IT IS THAT COOL---

Here is Curtis' e-mail ----

Hi George,

Terrific website you have. I do 3D artwork as a hobby, and the latest is a Mack B-61 - one of my favourites !

I was able to get some ideas from your website. Thanks so much.

So, I decided to do one with your name on the door, and send it off to you !

Hope you like it ! Let me know if I got any spelling wrong !

All the best in the new year

Curtis


IF YOU LIKE CURTIS' ART --- VISIT HIS SITE ---

ART OF CURTIS HEARD

1930 MACK AFM PROTOTYPE COE

I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

Recently, I received a copy of John B. Montville's "BULLDOG" copyright 1979. Absolutely a must have for the BULLDOG AC lover. My dilemma is that I have become obsessed with 2 photo's found on page 118 of this book and posted here. These two picture show a rather modernistic looking COE, chain - driven truck obviously built using a BULLDOG chassis. Presumably,this truck was built in the MACK LONG ISLAND CITY PLANT and designated the "AFM" pehaps after the initials of MACKS chief designer at the time, A.F. Maury. Note that the cab design is like that of a huge BULLDOG hood, and the radiator cover resembles that of a MACK AC.

My problem is this. I have contacted the MACK MUSEUM in ALLENTOWN, and they have  no pictures of this truck other than those from the book  - although they do have a file. I am wondering if more pictures exist, and how Montville acquired these. What happened to this vehicle?

I am also attaching a list of contributors to Montville's book in hopes that someone in this forum might recognize a name -- yes I remember that the book was written back in the 70's, and that some of these guys were "OLD TIMERS" back then.

Simply put -- more info please if it is out there!!! THIS IS A FANTASTIC AND INNOVATIVE TRUCK!!!!


LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS --

E.A. Hanauer --- former MACK engineer

Jack Winchester --- former fleet supervisor and early associate of A.F. Masuary

Henry Miller --- Mack executive engineer, retired

reply to my email -----

BROCKWAY SCHOOL BUS -- A SECOND CHANCE

This is one post that evokes many emotions for me, both as a school bus driver and a student who back in the late 50's and early 60's rode a BROCKWAY bus to and from school. I have been following the fate of this bus on the BROCKWAY TRUCK FORUM in the following thread, BROCKWAY SCHOOL BUS FOR SALE  since it first appeared. I am truly overjoyed by this final outcome!!

The picture above was taken by one of the members of the recovery crew, after the bus was pulled from the woods. I still can not believe the exterior condition of this bus having set for the time it did. This is indeed a rare find and will make for a unique restoration project.

Thanks to all who joined in to make this save possible -- you know that I will be following this project and looking forward to more pictures!!!

First Gear -- Tollway & Tunnel Authority

I told you I have a good wife -- for my birthday she got me my second FIRST GEAR Tollway and Tunnel Authority truck. This is a 1960 Mack dumper that goes real nice with the 47 International K-10.

2010 ENDLESS MOUNTAIN TRUCK SHOW AND FLEA MARKET

When I came home from this years BROCKWAY SHOW, I made mention to my wife that I had seen a poster about a truck show being held in Harford, Pa. -- THE 20th ENDLESS MOUNTAIN TRUCK SHOW AND FLEA MARKET.

I have said this before about my dear wife, "she treats me good!" She asked if that was what I wanted to do for my birthday. Of course the answer was yes.

So on Sunday, the 5th of September we packed up the MIATA and headed for Harford. It was well worth the 1 1/2 hour trip as I got behind two BROCKWAYS headed for the show.

This was the biggest year for this show, pulling in 181 trucks -- MAGNIFICENT TRUCKS!!

So sit back for a moment or two and click on the link below -- MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO YOU

2010 Endless Mountain Truck Show_2

Catching up with WALTER and my friend PLOWCHASER

As mentioned in the 2010 BROCKWAY TRUCK SHOW post, I was supposed to meet my new friend PLOWCHASER at the show to go to Marathon, NY to the home of Jerald Jonson's collection of WALTER SNOWPLOWS.

PLOWCHASER (aka --Ryan Pedone) had flown in to New York from California to attend the BROCKWAY show but more importantly to him, photograph the WALTER COLLECTION.

As fate would have it, we did not find each other at the show. I left at 1:00 pm for a short visit to the up coming BROCKWAY MUSEUM and then headed to the WALTER COLLECTION.

I arrived just before 2:00 pm to find Jerald and his wife Ruth. I had thought after my last visit that Jerald was no longer around --- happily that was not the case!!! After introductions, he told me that he was there waiting for Ryan, who was SUPPOSED to have arrived at 2.

The two hours we waited were well spent with Jerald telling me about his fabulous collection and showing me his collection of magnificent and historical WALTER pictures -- I HOPE HE SENDS ME SOME!!!

Ryan did show up. I could not keep up with the pace at which he took pictures. He was a nice guy, well worth the wait!!!

RYAN --- THIS POST IS FOR YOU!!! I REALLY LIKED THAT BROCKWAY PLOW!!!

AND JERALD ---- THANKS FOR SAVING THOSE WALTERS

THIS SLIDESHOW INCLUDES PICTURES FROM MY VISIT IN 2009