diff --git a/src/oldloader.cpp b/src/oldloader.cpp
index b43011cf49..e6227d9a4f 100644
--- a/src/oldloader.cpp
+++ b/src/oldloader.cpp
@@ -1175,7 +1175,7 @@ static const OldChunks vehicle_chunk[] = {
 	OCL_END()
 };
 
-static bool LoadOldVehicle(LoadgameState *ls, int num)
+bool LoadOldVehicle(LoadgameState *ls, int num)
 {
 	uint i;
 
@@ -1206,7 +1206,7 @@ static bool LoadOldVehicle(LoadgameState *ls, int num)
 			default:   v->spritenum >>= 1; break;
 		}
 
-		if (_old_next_ptr != 0xFFFF) v->SetNext(GetVehicle(_old_next_ptr));
+		if (_old_next_ptr != 0xFFFF) v->next = GetVehicle(_old_next_ptr);
 
 		v->string_id = RemapOldStringID(_old_string_id);
 
diff --git a/src/vehicle.h b/src/vehicle.h
index 1526c5c9f2..c9a805593f 100644
--- a/src/vehicle.h
+++ b/src/vehicle.h
@@ -218,9 +218,12 @@ struct VehicleShip {
 struct Vehicle;
 DECLARE_OLD_POOL(Vehicle, Vehicle, 9, 125)
 
+/* Some declarations of functions, so we can make them friendly */
 struct SaveLoad;
-const SaveLoad *GetVehicleDescription(VehicleType vt);
-void AfterLoadVehicles();
+extern const SaveLoad *GetVehicleDescription(VehicleType vt);
+extern void AfterLoadVehicles();
+struct LoadgameState;
+extern bool LoadOldVehicle(LoadgameState *ls, int num);
 
 struct Vehicle : PoolItem<Vehicle, VehicleID, &_Vehicle_pool> {
 	VehicleTypeByte type;    ///< Type of vehicle
@@ -232,7 +235,8 @@ private:
 	Vehicle *first;          // NOSAVE: pointer to the first vehicle in the chain
 public:
 	friend const SaveLoad *GetVehicleDescription(VehicleType vt); // So we can use private/protected variables in the saveload code
-	friend void AfterLoadVehicles();
+	friend void AfterLoadVehicles();                              // So we can set the previous and first pointers while loading
+	friend bool LoadOldVehicle(LoadgameState *ls, int num);       // So we can set the proper next pointer while loading
 
 	Vehicle *depot_list;     // NOSAVE: linked list to tell what vehicles entered a depot during the last tick. Used by autoreplace