Old School Trucks: T. Croft—Part 1

By: Dean Middleton, Photography by: Dean Middleton

Date: 15.05.2023

This is one of the first T.Croft trucks I photographed in Christchurch back in the mid-’80s. These tall cab Scanias were not common in the South Island back then and this was big gear when I was around 11 years old.

Internationals were the mainstay of the T. Croft fleet back in the ’80s and early ’90s. This T-Line was picking up a part load of timber on the flat deck trailer at a local Stillwater timber yard back in 1985.

A T-line on low loader duties basking in the West Coast sun (yes, sun) back in the late ’80s

An S26 Scammell, which sounded every bit as good as it looked, on general duties in the mid-’80s

A later model International S-Line on logging duties

A later model International S-Line on logging duties

350–365hp Cummins-powered T-Lines were replaced with 400–444hp versions

Twin air cleaners looked tough on the later model Croft T-Lines

Let’s not forget the equally tough-looking S-Lines. This 365hp Cummins-powered version was on heavy haulage duties.

A later model S-Line also on heavy haulage duties but powered by a 425hp Series 60 Detroit engine

A 400hp Cummins-powered International S-Line on bulk tipper duties

Rugged Seddon Atkinsons made their way into the fleet in the mid-’90s. This 410 was photographed on general duties.

Sister truck Seddon Atkinson on logging duties

The land of the rising sun produced some great trucks for NZ fleets over the years and Crofts took advantage of the hard-working Nissan Diesels that joined the fleet during the ’90s. This CW380 Mikado was placed on logging duties.

A later model CW380 Nissan Diesel also on logs. These looked good with an upright stack and balanced with a single Air Cleaner on the passenger side.

Then came some German MANs, also rugged and set up for logging duties. This 32.463 is parked beside an earlier model 32.423 on a typically wet West Coast day.

After seeing British brands Scammell and Seddon Atkinson in the Croft fleet years earlier, it was nice to see Foden make an appearance in the late ’90s

Iveco could be seen as a progression to the Seddon Atkinsons. This Powerstar was pictured on general duties back in 2004.

A Mack Quantum logger pictured doing the hard yards back in 2009 in the thankfully short-lived revamped Crofts livery

This is one of the first T.Croft trucks I photographed in Christchurch back in the mid-’80s. These tall cab Scanias were not common in the South Island back then and this was big gear when I was around 11 years old.

Internationals were the mainstay of the T. Croft fleet back in the ’80s and early ’90s. This T-Line was picking up a part load of timber on the flat deck trailer at a local Stillwater timber yard back in 1985.

A T-line on low loader duties basking in the West Coast sun (yes, sun) back in the late ’80s

An S26 Scammell, which sounded every bit as good as it looked, on general duties in the mid-’80s

A later model International S-Line on logging duties

A later model International S-Line on logging duties

350–365hp Cummins-powered T-Lines were replaced with 400–444hp versions

Twin air cleaners looked tough on the later model Croft T-Lines

Let’s not forget the equally tough-looking S-Lines. This 365hp Cummins-powered version was on heavy haulage duties.

A later model S-Line also on heavy haulage duties but powered by a 425hp Series 60 Detroit engine

A 400hp Cummins-powered International S-Line on bulk tipper duties

Rugged Seddon Atkinsons made their way into the fleet in the mid-’90s. This 410 was photographed on general duties.

Sister truck Seddon Atkinson on logging duties

The land of the rising sun produced some great trucks for NZ fleets over the years and Crofts took advantage of the hard-working Nissan Diesels that joined the fleet during the ’90s. This CW380 Mikado was placed on logging duties.

A later model CW380 Nissan Diesel also on logs. These looked good with an upright stack and balanced with a single Air Cleaner on the passenger side.

Then came some German MANs, also rugged and set up for logging duties. This 32.463 is parked beside an earlier model 32.423 on a typically wet West Coast day.

After seeing British brands Scammell and Seddon Atkinson in the Croft fleet years earlier, it was nice to see Foden make an appearance in the late ’90s

Iveco could be seen as a progression to the Seddon Atkinsons. This Powerstar was pictured on general duties back in 2004.

A Mack Quantum logger pictured doing the hard yards back in 2009 in the thankfully short-lived revamped Crofts livery

Founded in 1951 by Tom Croft, T. Croft has grown to become an iconic and major transportation force in the West Coast

The name of ‘Stillwater’ as a town has always reminded me of a place in Midwest America back in the gunslinging cowboy and western days, with shootouts outside the saloon at midday and ‘Billy the Kid’ or ‘Jesse James’ stirring up trouble.

The Stillwater we’re talking about is actually in the West, however, it’s on the West Coast of the South Island, and while it may not have a history of outlaws, I’m sure the locals could probably tell stories of people being run out of town back in the day.

Situated in the middle of distinctive native bush at the junction of the Arnold and Grey rivers, 15km inland from Greymouth, the town’s most famous brand in recent times (in my extremely biased opinion) is the red and white T.Croft Limited Fleet. 

Founded in 1951 by Tom Croft, this transport company has (over many decades) grown to become an iconic and major transportation force in the West Coast and is a major link in the supply of goods between Christchurch and Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika, and over the revered Southern Alps Arthurs and Lewis passes.

Crofts have also been heavily involved in the local economy with logging and coal cartage being a mainstay over the years. When I first began photographing T.Croft trucks back in the mid-’80s, International ruled the roost with T-lines and S-lines, but there was so much more to see in the armoury.

British brands Scammell, Seddon Atkinson, and Foden made their mark along with MAN, Iveco, and Japanese brands leading up to and beyond the turn of the 20th Century.

All of these brands seemed to have a common theme: they looked tough and needed to handle the harsh West Coast conditions and tough alpine passes. Suffice to say, the men behind the steering wheels were of the same ilk.

Leading into the 2000s, there have been some changes in the preference of fleet truck makes and models but also some common themes. Next month we will take a look at these.

Find new and used heavy machinery for sale in NZ 

Keep up to date in the industry by signing up to Deals on Wheels' free newsletter or liking us on Facebook.