Howden. I’d forgotten all about that. Was that the warehouse for fertiliser or something, behind the transport caff next to the bridge?
If so, I loaded there many times. Don’t remember anyone by name though.
Rikki,
Thanks for the update. Sad to think of such a vibrant company going the way of all flesh. It had an eventful existence. I first remember it in I suppose the 50s or 60s as the transport division of Tarmac, the roadbuilders. In those days the cabs were painted that horrible Tarmac khaki with the multi-T Tarmac logo in black on the door. Then they went to Transport Developement, at that time the biggest transport group in the world. At some point they joined up with United Transport but I’m not sure when the Brambles takeover came. I remember Brambles, by the way, as one of the dozen or so transport companies on the same street in a Sydney suburb that I canvassed for a job in the 60s. It was a very long road and I tramped from one end to the other calling at every firm - unsuccessfully! The only break in the monotony was sitting in the cab of an Oshkosh chatting to the owner driver (who also didn’t need any help) about his life on general haulage between Sydney and Melbourne. What a primitive tool though. The cab was so narrow that to change gear meant brushing the passenger’s thigh!! To sneeze put you in severe danger of banging your head on the windscreen. This was so small and the bonnet so high and long anybody in front closer than the length of a football pitch would do well to carry a tall flag! Anybody got a picture of one of those? While I’m on the subject of weird motors, I saw a D8 on a low loader pulled up at an outback cafe with a Bedford KM, the overgrown TK, coupled up. This was even more overgrown though. The KM cab was perched like a pimple on top of a massive Cat engine!
The Middlesborough depot you refer to was the one on the roundabout on the road towards Redcar, wasn’t it? That is the one I meant when I said ‘their new headquarters’. A vast improvement on the cramped conditions at Thornaby.
The Middlesborough depot you refer to was the one on the roundabout on the road towards Redcar, wasn’t it? That is the one I meant when I said ‘their new headquarters’. A vast improvement on the cramped conditions at Thornaby
When I was there they had the main depot at the roundabout just as you remember( Now a ford car dealership), the IVORY TOWERS[/i] HQ was then a nice brandspanking new office block in Stockton. Despite the Middlesbrough depot having plenty of empty office space it was obviously felt that the “suits” should be kept well away from us in case of contamination One of the drivers worked out that towards the end that for every driver employed in the UK there were 11 other staff in the company !!!, bearing in mind at this time Econofreight done NO other work apart from Heavy haulage, Jacking and skidding and self propelled heavy moves (Load Outs etc), and many weeks were spent sitting around waiting for jobs to start it is no wonder they were losing money hand over fist. Brambles integrated Econofreight with Lastra of Holland in an attempt to cut costs, but all that happened is the new group MD (Dutch) gave much of Econofreights work to Lastra in order to keep them afloat…
Those old Volvo pics remind me of a really crazy motor I drove on the power station, a 6 wheeler tipper with a cab on just like that, bonneted and the 10 ltr lump in it. I know it just got loaded to the top!
David Wrote,
Howden. I’d forgotten all about that.
Yes it was primarily a storage depot because the fertiliser was manufactured in Howdendyke, ICI was the owner then and it probably came about from a bit of back scratching in Cargo Fleet.
Econofreight Howden was also quite a big workshop and they did a lot of work for the abnormal lads, (not the drivers that were abnormal) well some were!
That became Yorkshire Storage when the workshop was closed, then Gilyott and Scott bought it before being swallowed into TDG
Wheel Nut:
That became Yorkshire Storage when the workshop was closed, then Gilyott and Scott bought it before being swallowed into TDG
Malc,
What era are you referring to? Funny thing is although I don’t remember workshops there I do remember the name Yorkshire Storage (now that you mention it). This was in the late 70s. The Gilyott & Scott connection is further demonstrated if you refer back to that Borderer photo I think you uploaded for me some time ago. That was connected to a G & S tipper that I ran for a week when Eco briefly thought it was a good idea.
Rikki,
Strange you should mention about the heavy exclusivity of Eco’s work when you were there because in 1997 when I saw Geoff in Middlesboro’ (his office was upstairs there then) he became very keen when he realised that I had only recently stepped down as Toray transport manager to put his case for taking over the distribution contract for us. I explained that the business didn’t lend itself to third party distribution and that the small but efficient own account fleet was the best way to go. We had specialised vehicles (designed by me) and the work involved mainly handballing rolls of fabric nationwide. Hardly fitted in with Eco’s core business did it?
By the way, just to show how wrong I can be, three years later after I had taken my own voluntary redundancy, Toray sacked all the remaining drivers and turned the distribution over to Audnel’s of Leicester. Just to show how wrong they can be this year I hear they have sacked Audnel’s and started to obtain some motors of their own again!
David,
A school friend of mine started his first job as an apprentice mechanic there, so that would be about 1972,
I think there were 5 fitters then, Econofreight either sold it or changed the name to Yorkshire Storage and the fitters went to work for Newholm Paints, which became Humber Kitchens, Hygena and now MFI.
Wheel Nut:
David,
A school friend of mine started his first job as an apprentice mechanic there, so that would be about 1972,
That would fit in with my memory.
I think there were 5 fitters then, Econofreight either sold it or changed the name to Yorkshire Storage
Name change I think because the blue and white stylised truck logo stayed the same. Just different name.
and the fitters went to work for Newholm Paints, which became Humber Kitchens, Hygena and now MFI.
Made For Idiots, I think it stands for
Or MI5 as my old Mum used to call it. Appropriately, as the peninsular unit we brought out here had some very secret bits. So secret in fact that we never did find them. Still the French artisan woodworker who made us the missing parts did an excellent job. Should have used him in the first place!
Strange you should mention about the heavy exclusivity of Eco’s work when you were there because in 1997 when I saw Geoff in Middlesboro’ (his office was upstairs there then) he became very keen when he realised that I had only recently stepped down as Toray transport manager to put his case for taking over the distribution contract for us.
Econofreight at that time had a “Logistics” division, its only contract was a few vans and a couple of 7.5 tonners doing internal mail and parts inside Wilton works, It was run TOTALLY seperatly from the heavy side, It could have been this side of the business that Geoff wanted to grow… It didnt!!! and was sold off to Stillers Transport and as far as I know has died a quiet death although the managers of Econofreight Logistics have stayed with Stillers and actually risen quite high up in Stillers management structure
Econofreights biggest problem is that they would NEVER do a job on “The Cheap”, Safety was the paramount rule, for example if on paper a 5 axle trailer could carry a certain load Econofreight would always send a 6 or 7 axle.
It was, and will always be to me the cream of Heavy Haulage, they carried the biggest loads, in a manner that was the safest possible, at a price to match. Every load was inspected and a drawing or plan for loading was drawn up… routes were ALWAYS checked no matter how many times it had been used, Drivers were always given a list of equipment needed to secure the load, and if something was needed that Econofreight didnt have in the yard, it was bought especially for the job… Make do with what you have was NEVER an option!!!
Unfortunatly Heavy Haulage has been killed off as a speciality because to many small hauliers have a couple of C&U wagons plated up to STGO and will do the job for a general haulage rate + 2nd man wages and chance the route being navigable
theres a few old motors about that i wouldnt mind having to drive :F88,scania 141 ,or my favourite,the ford transcontinental! my dad bought one of these in about 1981.it was only 2 or 3 years old and had a 335 14litre ■■■■■■■ and 13speed fuller box.i think it was originally specced for the middle east run,as it had an aircon unit on the roof and no rear mudguards ,only mudflaps.it was so fast and comfortable .it absolutely towered over every thing else on the road.still see the odd one working for a living.
Yes the F88/89s are my favourite but I agree the Transcon (with the Berliet cab but set higher) was revolutionary for it’s time. I only drove one and it was well past it’s sell by date and rolled around like a cork on the ocean, but I could see the attraction when new. The Bedford TM came out at the same time and was equally amazing. They represented both companies first venture into maximum weight haulage and was like a breath of fresh air. Until then you could drive a prestige motor like an Atki, Foden or ERF but if you wanted comfort you had to go foreign. They changed all that. (If you don’t consider GM & Ford foreign of course).
The firm I worked for here in France has majored on Magnums, and recently MANs, but in former days had Transcons. Some of the older drivers still rave about them.
Rikki,
I agree with all you say about Eco, a firm I have fond memories of, but don’t get too snooty about the general hauliers horning in. In my time at Leicester we had two lads employed casually as 2nd men but on more than one occasion I was asked if I could find my own and my 12 year old son earned some pocket money! Yes we always had legal routing orders but I well remember one mate whacking a motorway bridge with an outsize storage tank wrecking the trailer, seriously damaging the bridge and closing the road for hours.
I liked the 88/89 too, they were sort of cuddly The Transcon was just too early, it was heavy, expensive and was just too much for most transport bosses.
I had twoTranscontinentals , a 335 which could catch pigeons and a 250 with a 9 speed fuller.
Both brilliant trucks and didnt cost a penny in garage bills.
I also had a Berlet before that. 220hp, plated at 24tonne and me running it at 40tonne. again never cost a penny and did 6 trips to Athens in that one…
Bought it from a scrapyard, ran it for 3 months and got back what I paid for it from the same scrapyard
any body see any of those old AEC 8 wheelers, like the old 4 speed gate change Mamoth Majors?. I drove one around 1955. you talk about a sweat box, they were the original shake and bake lorries. any of the old Guy 's still out there. Thames Traders (the old knuckle busters) you would be sitting at a traffic light and the Engine would miss a beat, and the short throw gear stick would shudder and wrape your knuckles. its made me jump a few times. but they were a good work horse. how about the old Dennison, now there was a truck, to start one in the winter you had to carry a news paper around with you because the only way you could start them was you had to light the paper then put it into the air cleaner, so the engine would ■■■■ in the hot air, between gear changes the RPM was so slow you could read the New of the World between changes. no heaters, no power steering, a Phillips radio that could hardly pull in Radio Luxenburge. if you were lucky enough to have a radio you was one of the chosen few.
John T:
any body see any of those old AEC 8 wheelers, like the old 4 speed gate change Mamoth Majors?. I drove one around 1955. you talk about a sweat box, they were the original shake and bake lorries. any of the old Guy 's still out there.
Cut my teeth on the AECs around 1963, the Park Royal fibreglass cab, with Wimpeys building the MI. Later, in general haulage, drove the earlier, steel, version. Haven’t seen them or any Guys for a long time but then, I don’t live there anymore! The Guy Invincible. Now there was a motor, massive cab, wrap around screen, quick release handbrake which rested flush on the floor and even such luxeries as a cigarette lighter and sun visor (steel; not bird-snapping plastic).
Thames Traders (the old knuckle busters) you would be sitting at a traffic light and the Engine would miss a beat, and the short throw gear stick would shudder and wrape your knuckles. its made me jump a few times. but they were a good work horse.
But how about the sports car driving position of the Trader? Seat almost on the floor and legs extended forwards to the pedals.
how about the old Dennison, now there was a truck,
At first I thought you had confused Dennis with the trailer manufacturer, but then vaguely remembered a truck with that name. Don’t know what chassis or engine but the cab looked homemade - very square with plenty of glass. Was it made in Ulster?
to start one in the winter you had to carry a news paper around with you because the only way you could start them was you had to light the paper then put it into the air cleaner, so the engine would ■■■■ in the hot air,
Well remember this method on Econofreight’s ■■■■■■■■■■■■■ because Tom Llewellyn, the boss, refused to pay expenses for Easystart Aerosols, said it wasn’t necessary. After making a point one day by calling out a breakdown wagon in the wilds of Norfolk (expensive), our local manager said ‘OK buy the cans but put it down to something else so Tom doesn’t know’! The same method, diesel-soaked flaming rags or paper, was also the standard way to de-ice the windscreen.
between gear changes the RPM was so slow you could read the New of the World between changes. no heaters, no power steering, a Phillips radio that could hardly pull in Radio Luxenburge. if you were lucky enough to have a radio you was one of the chosen few.
My only radio for years was a little portable sitting on the engine with an earphone connected!
Why do we look back on those years with such fondness? Youth and adventure I suppose. We had both in abundance.
Hi Dave. they where the day’s eh. them old bangers. remember the 2 stroke Foden, and the other 2 stroke screamer the “Commer”. I drove a Guy invincible with the 6LX Gardner engine 125hp. I used to tramp all over England,Scotland, and Wales. find my own loads. leave on Monday be home on Saturday. make around 20 pounds a week. yes the Thames Trader was like a racing car, you sat in a well it was like the cab was built around you after you got in.LOL. I did like that little gear lever though. when it wasn’t busting you. I have run many a Glasgow in one, with the old 4 in line Scammel trailer. over loaded, with a Guiness label in the window instead of the proper licence tag. LOL. take care John T.
John T:
. them old bangers. remember the 2 stroke Foden, and the other 2 stroke screamer the “Commer”.
I do. The Foden 12-speed and the Commer ‘knocker’ Is it any wonder now we’re all half deaf?; eh? EH, ?
I drove a Guy invincible with the 6LX Gardner engine 125hp. I used to tramp all over England,Scotland, and Wales. find my own loads. leave on Monday be home on Saturday. make around 20 pounds a week.
Me too. Now that was tramping. Basic plus a percentage.
with the old 4 in line Scammel trailer. over loaded,
I had a Boden 28ft 4-in-line. 2 major problems; if you had a puncture the oscillating bogie would tilt over; very dangerous and very difficult to jack up; if your pressures weren’t all exactly equal and or not loaded evenly, at speed it would weave all over the road. I came down towards Symonds Yat one day at about eighty (my Kew Dodge/Perkins 354 would do 75 on the flat) from kerb to kerb hanging on grimly; daren’t steer, daren’t brake. Managed to pull into the caff at the bottom and make very swift use of the facilities!!
with a Guiness label in the window instead of the proper licence tag. LOL…
I passed my test on a bedford TK remember trying to sleep on the 2foot wide shelf at back of the seats,it’s no wonder bedford are no more! moved on to BMC Mastiff,used to fill oil thro a wee flap in cab just behind feet if you spilt any it went all over the floor,ideal for safe driving,moved on to a Guy big J,with a Gardner ,away all week on a scotch trip we’d keep the engine running day and night,still couldn’t get warm,this was for a firm called D.J.Bennett of Nuneaton
we had the first Tranconti in the area,alsoF88 and F89,s ,The Ford was on the front cover of Commercial Motor,what a flying machine,when the driver,the boss’s blue eyed boy went on holiday,we got our hands on it,down to 3MPG.
Bennett moved to Atherstone, We also did heavy haulage and the bridges on the Atherstone bypass were higher on one side than the other so we were sent out to each end of the bypass to stop the traffic while it did a detour up the wrong side of the road,first car we met was! yes big blue and white jam sandwich,they weren’t at all impressed!
Several of the drivers at Bennetts had worked for Econfreight,Philip Burbeck,his dad Alan,also Dennis Brown and John Gaylor,those were the days
Regaeds derek
boy do I remember the old TK Bedford. that was Englands first “Sleeper” cab LOL. Englands answer to Americas sleeper cabs. I remember driving the TK they used to leap forward like a big cat when starting off in first gear. because they were so under powered. no more Bedfords eh?. that oil trap door you filled also doubled as the heater when you left it open, what with the Engine fumes and what little heat you did get its a wonder we are still alive to talk about it LOL. do you or Dave remember “Yiddel Davis”? from London, I drove an old AEC tanker for him. 2 London to Glasgows a week, that was before the Motorway was ever thought of, it used to be the A1 and Shap, or the Brough. 3 months of that was enough. they used to say 1 year with Davis and you would be the richest Lorrie Driver in the Cemetery. LOL I often think back to the day’s driving in England. leaving London in dry weather, then running into bad weather, frost etc and having to cut your ropes as the frost “froze” them you could not undo them.when you got to the other end. best John T.
Going back to 74/75,occasionally on a Sunday afternoon a DJ Bennett F88 pulling a tipper would turn up at our depot which I would load with with offal for De Mulders at Hartshill.I believe they were subbing for another Nuneaton firm called Lindley Haulage who had 5 or 6 88’s running 24/7 on that work.The first one Lindleys had, with the silver grill, appeared in a full page Volvo advert in CM. I was allowed to move them around the loading area while the driver was brewing up,what a difference from that twin-steer Foden I normally used for yard shunting.
At last years AEC rally there was a Por R reg Mammoth Major still working on logging work possibly out of Herefordshire, I thought it looked a bit rough for preservation motor till I got nearer and saw the tax and O licence.
