Great stuff indeed!
Taskman:
David,
Why did I not bump into you out in Ozz? I was a baby £10 pom back in 65, you must be even older than me and I’m nearly 58.
Sorry about the tardiness of this reply, must have had another senior moment and missed it 
.
To answer your question - it’s a biiiig place 
. I am almost 63 now and had driven overland in a bus to India. Starting off working in Darwin, I then worked in Katherine NT, Sydney NSW, Mackay & Townsville QLD, and finally back to Sydney where I was a taxi driver.
Whereabouts were you in those days, were you working, and did you move around or stay in one place?
If you ever took a Sydney Radio or Yellow Cab in Sydney, we may well have met. You weren’t the young bludger who skinned out on paying his fare by going in through the front door of some flats and then straight through and out the back, were you? 
Now, just let me go and check the AUS$/€ rate 
Salut, David.
i just thought i would bump this thread up for the benefit of anyone looking in thats new, or missed it first tiem round, there are some great pics of the macks at an old caff, very atmospheric!
also reading though the thread again, i saw bird’s mentioned, a bloke i met down the pit name of mickey shone was i believe one of the three bob trailer kids!
Mal,
After working at Birds I bet your mate thought what an easy life it was down the pit 
, well shorter hours anyway 
it was a long time ago taskman, but i seem think he actually enjoyed birds! he was a native of featherstone where their yard was as well. youre right tho, the hours down t’pit would have been a piece of cake compared!
Taskman. You are making me feel ancient! I’ve just found this! I was just a daft boy with the SCWS Transport Division in Glasgow and remember those Macks well. I never seen anyone pass them unless they were stopped! I believe the guy who ran them was called George Paterson who later went to Canada. When I worked with Smith of Maddiston in Glasgow I went to Massey Fergusson at Kilmarnock one afternoon and got talking to a Canadian guy there. He told me he knew Paterson and that he (Paterson) had emigrated to British Columbia and started a trucking firm there. I used to dream of getting behind the wheel of one of these monsters! Thanks for the memories. Alex
Anybody remember the White Road Commanders and Road Boss’s of NET Transport of Montrose? They used to be a common site pulling their tipper trailers up and down the '74.
Alex
I remember when Popeye run some out off Bathgate, west of scotland of coatbridge was the dealer, also Malcolm plant had 6x4 but couldnt keep it going on gearboxes.
Newbridge garage had one in glasgow in the 70`s with holmes gear on it
You’re right about ‘Popeye’ (Wullie Dryburgh) at Bathgate. He was not the original ‘Popeye’, cant remember his name but he came from Penrith. I worked with Wullie Dryburgh until last September in my last job. He still liked to work long hours. Old habits die hard!
Newbridge Garage were a legend in this area (Glasgow) All of their tackle was American. Gmc & Ford wreckers for cars and vans, the Mack for trucks. I think that was the Mack wrecker that Malcolm had, it certinely did the rounds working with a lot of firms in this area. There was also a demolition firm that had a fleet of Macks, tippers and a tractor for the low loader.
Alex
Malcolm bought there wrecker from Newbridge when it closed, but also had a 6x4 aerodyne type model on plant work driven by Geordie Shields, the demolition company that used them was owned by Woolfries, think it was called WJD demolition. I. H. Brown had a few on continental work from Perth.
Popeye of Penrith was that by any chance John Hodson ! When West of Scotland had the dealership I had a test drive that was enough, and was happy too get back in my scania, I worked for Tommy McMillan at loganswell, newton mearns, wagons were similar to malcolms colours , although the colour scheme came from, the old Alexandria transport at Dumbuck
focale
I believe you are right, it was John Hodson from Penrith. He operated from a transport cafe in Springburn Rd, near where I stay. I’m sure the name on the door was N.A.T. though.
You’re right about WJD as well.
I always wondered why MacMillan painted his lorries in Alexandra Transport colours, maybe he just liked the look! Now their part of Sam Andersons group.
Alexandra’s main depot was in Alexandra Parade Glasgow. They were merged into Tilcon sometime in the mid 70’s.
I worked at United Glass at Garrowhill from 1978 to 83. A guy called Jimmy Park worked there for a wee while, he used to work for MacMillan at one time, maybe you know him? Haven’t seen him since then though.
Alex
Jim Park was nephew of Davie (haircut) Kinnaird traded as DEMA transport from Castlemilk always had left hand drive Scania and tilts.
I served my driving apprenticeship with Tom McMillan and his mother, who run the company, I tried to buy the company when Tommy was admitted to erskine hospital but was beaten by Sam Anderson, Tommy is still in erskine hospital and very ill he is in McMillan ward !!!
I could write a book about my time in McMillans
Why dont you!
My friend and fellow driver, Ken McCauley put me up to writing about my early working life. I now have had a good response from a transport magazine that is interested in publishing these tales. I also wrote a wee story about my childhood in Glasgow and managed to get it on a site that has stories from ordinary Glesga’ folk! www.ourglasgowstory.com A newspaper serving ex-pat Scots has said it would like to publish that story. I have never been anything else other than a lorry driver, you can believe me that I am very pleased about all that.
Ye kin teach an auld dug new tricks!
Alex
Proud to be a Glesga’ Keelie!
Taskman: I remember those Macs. They were beautifull. They used to trunk out of Port Talbot. I was driving a BRS cabover Leyland Comet with a single axle trailer at the time . Max load 12t . Just as well as it had vacuum brakes. You had to send a telegram ahead if you wanted to stop suddenly.Dogs.
This is what you are talking about. Johan still uses this on low loader work from Holland. Took this yesterday,
Obviously not ex-P&S though Harry, left ■■■■■■ you see .
Spardo; Well spotted. I actually saw the P+S regularly in S Wales years ago.Bright yellow. But I assumed they were left hookers. & of course they were day cabs. ( Day& Night )
amazing how small they look now!
Mal. Yeah,but look at what we were driving at the time. I remember when the S type Bedford came out the truck press raved about the wonderfull vision…I saw one at the truckfest and the cab looked like you wore it. It was tiny…
true harry! there was some right little dog-kennels about!