When I started on the wagons in 1990, I was paired with an ex-Harrisons bloke - Bert Hinchcliffe (Hubert). He’d worked for them in the sixties and was a really grand bloke, taught me a lot and regarded me as “a fast learner”. Sadly he took a bad back injury trying to uncouple a drawbar trailer which ended his working days. He lived somewhere around Elland if I remember right. Anyone on here remember him?
I started at Dewsbury about 1959, van lad, I was regular mate to driver John Gillings, a grand fella who taught me a lot. We had an Albion Chieftain, 5 day a week , deliveries between Dewsbury and Manchester during the morning, regular collections round Manchester in the afternoon.
Happy days for a young lad like wot I woz. 
grumpy old man:
I started at Dewsbury about 1959, van lad, I was regular mate to driver John Gillings, a grand fella who taught me a lot. We had an Albion Chieftain, 5 day a week , deliveries between Dewsbury and Manchester during the morning, regular collections round Manchester in the afternoon.
Happy days for a young lad like wot I woz.
I think the correct terminology is “back in the mists of time “ , I know it seems like that to me , I recently heard a lad calling 1978 “the olden days “ , just when I was in my prime .
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.
you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tony
tonyj105:
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tony
That would be interesting to see. Wonder if any survived into preservation?
tonyj105:
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tony
I am certain one of our local agricultural services/contractor (BFS Billericay Farm Services) ran a TL quite late on and possibly into the late 80s early 90s with an auto type coupling on a single axle tanker. Perhaps that was fitted with a converter.
teech:
tonyj105:
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tonyThat would be interesting to see. Wonder if any survived into preservation?
There is an article with pictures in Commercial Motor from 1958.ScammellâSAE. Coupling | 1st August 1958 | The Commercial Motor Archive
Regards John.
old 67:
teech:
tonyj105:
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tonyThat would be interesting to see. Wonder if any survived into preservation?
There is an article with pictures in Commercial Motor from 1958.ScammellâSAE. Coupling | 1st August 1958 | The Commercial Motor Archive
Thanks for uploading.
Regards
TeechRegards John.
tonyj105:
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tony
The article talks about the converter being available if orders were forthcoming - I wonder if it was popular and how well it sold?
grumpy old man:
I started at Dewsbury about 1959, van lad, I was regular mate to driver John Gillings, a grand fella who taught me a lot. We had an Albion Chieftain, 5 day a week , deliveries between Dewsbury and Manchester during the morning, regular collections round Manchester in the afternoon.
Happy days for a young lad like wot I woz.
Were you there in the late 60s when Harrisons ran at least 2 Leyland Ergomatic Octopusses (or should that be Octopii) with trailers, plus at least 1 Leyland Ergo Beaver Tractor Unit, on the runs to Westbourne Road depot in East London.
Looked on Google streetview/satellite and the yard is now housing.
essexpete:
tonyj105:
Frankydobo:
The lightest TL tractor unit was the TL1630, a 96" Wheelbase and GCW of 16260Kg powered by the 330D, 330T or 330TD engine. Even this weight would mean a more robustly designed Auto coupling. In all my civilian and military experience of the TL Bedford I haven’t seen one with an Auto coupling always the 5th Wheel but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been examples especially in military use. I would have thought too by the intro of the TL even BRS had long got rid of the Auto coupling last seen on the TK’s. Franky.you could get a convertor fitted with a fifth wheel to couple to the the scammell auto couple on the tractor unit , converted it from a an auto coupler to a fifth wheel. i do remember them but i dont have a photo of one
tonyI am certain one of our local agricultural services/contractor (BFS Billericay Farm Services) ran a TL quite late on and possibly into the late 80s early 90s with an auto type coupling on a single axle tanker. Perhaps that was fitted with a converter.
I wonder if any photos were taken of it?
ramone:
NMP
love this photo!
sorry…a bit late,only just spotted it 
Hello, A little bit of history, George Oldroyd (Martyn’s father) started out driving his own truck in about 1932, by 1947 he had over 40 trucks and his business was ‘Nationalised’, that nearly killed him…he then worked for BRS as the area manager with, at some time, one Betty Boothroyd, as his secretary and told me he submitted the same monthly report for the next 6 years. Come 1953 he started in transport again with another couple of investors (One was Bill Storey) using what had been the coachbuilding business Harrisons of Dewsbury. In the late 60’s Martyn joined the business having qualified as an accountant and not long after George suffered the first of many heart attacks and Martyn had to pick up the reigns. George was advised to get out of the business and eventually a buyer was found. Miles Druce Steel…who were then taken over by GKN who then sold to Unilever who then decided they did not want to be in transport and Martyn (who had stayed with the business throughout all the drama), Bobby, Tony and Phil carried out a ‘management buyout’ and after a very shaky start stabilised the business for some time known as Carryfast/Haulfast, made it prosper and eventually sold it on to UPS, retaining the coachbuilding business which had developed in to an ambulance and bus building business. George passed in 1983, proper Yorkshireman, Martyn is still around, but he DID NOT marry a Harrison. I have fond memories of spending time in the Dewsbury depot as a teenager and remember a few names, Clifford Harrison, Edgar Sykes, Bill Auty, who built great recovery vehicles and a few others…Nearly forgot to say, I could have sworn that Harrisons had a couple of Leyland Octopuses which used to growl up Wakefield cutting with a drawbar behind…
99999: Misc. from 8316dart showroom, Vintage Trucks - Tamiya RC & Radio Control Cars
wow thanks for the info. nice to hear Martyn is still around..i have only fond memories working at Carryfast NK from 1980 until the day the depot closed in 1986
I don’t recall any Octopus, we DID have one Leyland Steer (Chinese 6), could be seen on alternate nights, complete with Dyson drawbar, chugging up Wakefield cutting, Joe Tinker pressing the buttons, and praying the shunters hadn’t loaded the Steer too high for Ackworth railway bridge.
A regular phone call about half an hour after the trunkers left. “send some men and a van out, the bridge has taken the top layer off…again”
No easy peasy M1 in those days, it was Dewsbury-Wakefield-Doncaster-A1
No M1 but Martyn could get to Islington from Dewsbury in around 2 hours in the Dart!
Is that Carryfast’s drawbar trailer on the left?
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It’s the right colour for a UPS demount skele but probably a few years too early.
If Ro and STFU don’t like it tough.Don’t see it called Ro and STFU net.Let me know if they actually do run the site now then I’ll definitely do one.