eric the judge:
I used to drive a drawbar outfit from 1977 to 1980 for Multiple Fruit Supplies on the Littlewoods contract and the limit on A roads was still 30mph when I left. A bit of a hairy drive if the trailer had a full load and the front end was light.
eric,what depot were you at? I worked for MFS/Glass Glover/Wincanton at Maltby from 1979-2005 and was on drawbars regular for about 5 years.
Chris.
Hi Chris I worked at the Hitchin depot from september1977 to january 1980.We used to do a fortnight about on Maltby trunk and shop deliveries to London south coast area . it was a good job but i went back on long distance again to relieve the boredom of the same run everyday for 2 weeks.
eric the judge:
Hi Chris I worked at the Hitchin depot from september1977 to january 1980.We used to do a fortnight about on Maltby trunk and shop deliveries to London south coast area . it was a good job but i went back on long distance again to relieve the boredom of the same run everyday for 2 weeks.
You will remember the night shunter Paul Goodhind then Eric and we will have met as I used to help him out.You would have had a Scania drawbar as I don’t think Hitchin or Luton (later) had any Transcontinentals.
I am trying to think of some names - Harris was one and I heard he died but I can’t think of any others at the moment. I stuck it out at Maltby through two redundancies and through Glass Glover and Wincanton up to 2005,having come off the road in 1986 and onto shunting/office cover.
Some good laughs with the Penrith,Hitchin and Ross lads,good times,good job. 
I remember Paul Goodhind in the yard he gave me good advice on reversing the drawbar.When I started I had a Scania 111 LKY569P which i shared with a chap called Lionel. We then had a Scania 81 AKW785T and yes we did have transcons I had DWB224V for a while. Some of the others at Hitchin were Tony Williams nicknamed Sammy because he looked like a white Sammy Davis Jnr,Alan Mynott and Terry Baker. Was the chap who died Alan Harris? I got some photos of the Fords from a chap i know at truckfest who collects transcons one shows DWB222V having a break on Woodhead. As say we must have met but it was a long time ago. The only ross driver i can recall at the minute was Harry he was always cheerful . I delivered to Maltby last year what an eyeopener everythings changed. If i can remember more i will post again .
I took this on Woodhead early one morning Eric.Fleet 158 DWB 225V.I remember now you did have Fords at Hitchin,memorys not as good as it was.I remember the reg numbers though,what a sad old sod I’m getting. 
Tony Williams I remember very well - a white Sammy Davis Jr complete with teeth,Lionel,Alan and Terry as well.It was Alan Harris that died suddenly,I think it was a heart attack.Harry from Ross was originally from Wakefield and did Worcester and Shrewsbury regular,he was a character but he dropped a clanger with the shunter one night,can’t recall what it was and couldn’t find his trailer winding handle.Paul had dropped his trailer legs on it with the spare handle.
Ive got some more MFS drawbar pics,I’ll scan them and put them on when I can.
robinswh:
When I was a kid any lorry pulling a drawbar trailer by law had to be operated by two people…the drivers mate operated the trailer brakes…does anyone know when the law changed to allow one man operation of such vehicles?
Hi, I started as a trailer mate for Macks Hauliers of Silvertown. The trailer mate had a ratchet hand brake for the trailer in the n/s and it was used mainly for going downhill, when you applied the trailer brake a couple of notches. Also at that time we had mainly AEC mammoths and they had to be started on the handle. Many a driver or mate got himself a large pair of testicles when the engine kicked back, no self starters in them days. Also no heaters. todays truckers haven’t lived. Bill Sparrow.
I drove a 1964 Leyland Super Comet Car Transporter from 1967 to 1970 needed a mate and the speed limit was 30mph, I was pulled in Canterbury for exceeding the speed limit, I think the law changed 71-73. We also had a pup trailer which could be used without a mate because the ULW was under 1ton.
Served my time at a company with 1950 AEC box tractors which pulled 12 wheeled traiers( 3 sets of 4 in line axles), they had air brakes and required a mate with a ratchet hand brake in the cab positioned at the mates side; a wire rope used to be coupled up to the trailer I dont think they were ever used.
robinswh:
When I was a kid any lorry pulling a drawbar trailer by law had to be operated by two people…the drivers mate operated the trailer brakes…does anyone know when the law changed to allow one man operation of such vehicles?