Here’s a few firms Iv’e had lifts with in 1960-1962.I was in theRAF at Feltwell near Thetford and thumbed it home to Sheffield whenever possible.
Turners are still going I know but they had a depot at Fordham,Ely and at Costessey,Norwich.Thier trunkers ran Sun-Thurs nights.Fordham changed over at Newark,Norwich at Grantham bus station all with Collyhurst depot Manchester.If I could get to K.Lynn for 2000 hrs Turners Norwich drivers would always stop for me ,then straight into Manchester c/over and a lift straight to Sheffield.Same coming back Sunday night.Wait in t’Wicker,Sheffield about 2200 and hope for Grantham c/over and a lift through to K.Lynn.They ran BMC’s,Bedfords and LAD -cabbed Dodges.I remember a big Irish feller from Manchester and a driver from Norwich called Billy Feet who told me they coasted past foreman’s house so as not to wake him if they were running early.Other firms I recall :
Mackintoshes of Quality Street fame which I think was BRS Contracts.The 8-legger ran Norwich-Halifax an ERF.
British Industrial Sand ex Castleton near K.Lynn-Leyland Octopi.
Frigid-Freight(from Diss I think)-AEC MK5 8-legger and drag
Staples Brothers-Boston-ERF
A.E.Lenton Boston
Tower Hill transport,Boston-first time in a Bedford TK
Wm.Epton Boston-Commer TS3’s-you new when they were coming if you stood in Sleaford waiting.
Van Smirren who carried shellfish
One of the Kimes-can.t remember if it was George H or Ernest F
All the Lincolnshire wagons were on market work and ran through or tipped in Sheffield en route to Lancashire markets.
Sometimes Norfolk based drivers ran to Lancs via Grantham,Notts,Derby and Stoke so I’d bale out in Derby and wait outside the old Octopus cafe and be guaranteed a lift to Sheffield as there was always:
Leonard Green,Rotherham
Parkgate Iron and Steel
B.R.S. Sheffield Staniforth Road-droves of 'em
Steel,Peech and Tozer,Templeborough
Plus various other steel-carriers,Geordies,Brummies and Taffs.
Anybody know if any of Lincolnshire firms above are stil going?