This Scania did about 400,000 miles on double shift pulling Ross Youngs fridge vans between Grimsby and Central Scotland,after about two years we re-painted and lettered it ant it went on to the Long distance fleet driven by the late Jim Varney,it was a real class unit,smooth as silk and 100% reliable all it’s life.
This was the same motor in Ross Youngs fleet colours.
When we awarded the Ross Youngs contract in early '84 we put this fairly new R112 and it’s driver Ian Williams onto the day shift and our long serving night man Edward “Dusty” Airey went onto the night shift,two better,reliable drivers you could never find,equal maybe,but they could never be better ! We then ordered a new R112 for the contract which went on the road as a “B” reg.Cheers Dennis.
Bewick:
When we awarded the Ross Youngs contract in early '84 we put this fairly new R112 and it’s driver Ian Williams onto the day shift and our long serving night man Edward “Dusty” Airey went onto the night shift,two better,reliable drivers you could never find,equal maybe,but they could never be better ! We then ordered a new R112 for the contract which went on the road as a “B” reg.Cheers Dennis.
Dennis Dusty was a great bloke used to talk to him
Quit a lot on the c b that job for him must have
Been a plum job nowing what you were doing
Every night and good tackle.he used to do a
Bit at Kendle harness racing track didn’t he
Frank
Dennis
Nice to see a reference to Dusty, I have resumed contact with him after many years, thanks to your help. His voice hasn’t changed at all and when we speak the clock goes back to the times of a proper job.
Bassman
Hiya Frank,Dusty must have been,along with your goodself of course 
,the most reliable night man a firm could hope to employ.He was that meticulous and precise he could rhym off the exact times he passed under various M/way bridges,M/way splits,trailer changing times etc. you name it he could tell you exactly.And boy did he have some gruelling shifts,night after night in lousy weather up and over the 62.His mate on days,Ian Williams, was every bit as reliable as “Dusty” and also had some rough shifts up and down the 74 but neither of them ever failed 
I supplied the pick-up for the starting gate at Kendal Raceway in the early '80’s and later on at York Raceway and who better to get to drive but “Dusty” who came to be acknowledged as the most reliable starting gate driver at either venue,he did exactly as instructed by Mr.Starter,precisely,no more no less everytime Cheers Dennis.
Still wet behind the ears Dennis ,and nice to see the S C A N I A S are now being posted, great pictures of great looking fleet .
JAKEY:
Still wet behind the ears Dennis ,and nice to see the S C A N I A S are now being posted, great pictures of great looking fleet .
I’ve sorted this new 111 out just for you “JAKEY”,and I’ve waved a magic wand and reduced it in size,so you can paint and letter it yourself and then tie a bit of string onto the towing pin and Wey hey! away your off around the school yard,“look out you little scroats I’m coming past in my new 111” Cheers Dennis,PS couldn’t resist 
"king of the road truck " , why was that painted like that Dennis ?
JAKEY:
"king of the road truck "
Now I really am believing that you are “wet behind ears” “JAKEY” 
When I took this shot in 1979( you would be eleven at that time ) I had just arrived back in Milnthorpe after collecting the 111 from the Dealer I’d bought it off,and it was in FACTORY PRIMER and if you look closely you can see our Trade Plates in the windscreen ! 
Cheers Dennis.
Dear me!
5thwheel:
Dear me!
And your point being David ? 
Dennis.
We`re the Scanias competitively priced at the time Dennis?
ramone:
We`re the Scanias competitively priced at the time Dennis?
Everything was cheaper than a 111 “ramone”,but not by much and no-way enough to put me off going in for them big style.Cheers Dennis.
Bewick:
ramone:
We`re the Scanias competitively priced at the time Dennis?Everything was cheaper than a 111 “ramone”,but not by much and no-way enough to put me off going in for them big style.Cheers Dennis.
You get what you pay for Dennis
Bewick:
This Scania did about 400,000 miles on double shift pulling Ross Youngs fridge vans between Grimsby and Central Scotland,after about two years we re-painted and lettered it ant it went on to the Long distance fleet driven by the late Jim Varney,it was a real class unit,smooth as silk and 100% reliable all it’s life.
hi dennis,
i am really enjoying this thread and your evocative photos.although personally i have never been able to buy into the whole “SCARNIA KING OF THE ROAD” thing.i totally agree with you,the 112 was a cracking machine,several mates ran many of them over the years.thanks.
regards andrew.
Bewick:
5thwheel:
Dear me!And your point being David ?
I would have thought trade plates and primer would be enough to indicate it wasn’t its final colour scheme,but never mind!
David(with new glasses)
5thwheel:
Bewick:
5thwheel:
Dear me!And your point being David ?
I would have thought trade plates and primer would be enough to indicate it wasn’t its final colour scheme,but never mind!
David(with new glasses)
Exactly David,I wasn’t getting at you but I knew you would come back and underline the blinding obvious,there sure is a vast gulf nowadays between “yesteryear” and “to-day”,however,I’m quite content to remain in the world of “yesteryear” mate along with many others on the site eh! Cheers Dennis.
pete 359:
Bewick:
hi dennis,
i am really enjoying this thread and your evocative photos.although personally i have never been able to buy into the whole “SCARNIA KING OF THE ROAD” thing.i totally agree with you,the 112 was a cracking machine,several mates ran many of them over the years.thanks.
regards andrew.
Thanks for the kind coments Andrew I’m glad the thread is of interest mate.Same with many marques Andrew,you either take to them or you don’t but the Scania was a very popular motor in the Bewick fleet with both the Drivers and the Workshop,and of course,the bloke that bought them Cheers Dennis.
And in the begining 
,this is a shot of the 2nd artic we got at Bewick Transport in 1970,I took this shot prior to me setting off with it’s first load,19ton of Bleached Kraft for British Sisal Kraft in Strood,we would return the load a week later after the reels had been printed with ICI Perspex signage.The trailer it is coupled to was a 33ft tandem Yorks had lent us while they built two new trailers which we should have had when the tractor went on the road.