Hi boys i was a subie for smith’s for a while a bloke called norman kibby was manager at totton did lot of tomatoes out off portsmouth changed over in naylor transport yard in garstang, one day the glasgow trunk was running late they asked if i could go on up to the moss cafe at carlisle that was ok but the scotts block got upset said i must have ben running bent to load and get that far in a day.good times thou roping and sheeting never hurt anyone.
gerbil sb152:
Hi boys i was a subie for smith’s for a while a bloke called norman kibby was manager at totton did lot of tomatoes out off portsmouth changed over in naylor transport yard in garstang, one day the glasgow trunk was running late they asked if i could go on up to the moss cafe at carlisle that was ok but the scotts block got upset said i must have ben running bent to load and get that far in a day.good times thou roping and sheeting never hurt anyone.
gerbil… What year would that have been ?
Hi not to sure there was also a guy called euen(spelling is probable wrong) a young lad then came from salisbury he went on to pull scac trailors for various people,it would have been around1978 or 79 i think not to sure on datesor may have been 81/82 not sure.
Hi Bewick,
I do remember the engined HGV’s I drove,and yes I did collect a Big J Guy from Newton Le Willows,and yes it was 240 Gardner powered,and to further confirm another members comment,yes the 2 extra pots did protrude almost to the catwalk,but a 240 it was,the little 120 was in another Big J Guy,not an ERF as you said,there were 2 of them,both in OCL colours,drivers names escape me at present,but I remember them both well,ran out of Freight Terminal in Barton Dock Road,Trafford Park,when I was on nights,I had to take one of the 120’s up to Tebay with a change over from Maddiston as all the vehicles had to return to Maddiston to be tested on an annual basis,I remember the night well,so bloody slow,I couldnt get the heater to work properly,freezing.
Which reminds me,anyone remember having a small fire under your fuel tank to melt the diesel,these were the day when diesel didnt have any alcohol or other additives,the fire was the only way to keep the fuel from waxing,that was when wed rove through temps of -12 degree’s on the A74,good days? not so sure!!!
All the new ERF’s were 240 engined,despite being more expensive than the ■■■■■■■■■■■ this can be confirmed by other SoM drivers,come on where are you all?
I used to do 3 trailers to Gastang,Nr Preston change over,with Maddiston drivers,usually a guy called Tom Thumb was one of the 3,nice guy,but there again most of the Scottish drivers were.
But I do like the Easy Start,much better than jump leads!!!
Take it easy
To add further to my previous post,another member on this site,alexsaville also had a 240 engined Guy,he ran out of Glasgow,Fleet number ND 999,perhaps there are others that CAN confirm,either way we are not stupid and we both know the engines that were in the trucks,that in my case,I drove over a period of 7/8 years!
5thwheel:
To add further to my previous post,another member on this site,alexsaville also had a 240 engined Guy,he ran out of Glasgow,Fleet number ND 999,perhaps there are others that CAN confirm,either way we are not stupid and we both know the engines that were in the trucks,that in my case,I drove over a period of 7/8 years!
Hi,
I don’t think anyone suggested that you were stupid, All I was saying was that we had all sorts of engines in the big j’s but I never saw one with a 240 gardner. We had a lot fitted with V8 perkins and someone told me they never made one
I can remember seeing them in day cabbed B series ERF’s wth a lot of the engine out the back, they must have been a tight squeeze in the J.
The best Big j’s we had were fitted with the 290 ■■■■■■■ (r/h exhaust stack) or the 280 rolls (l/h stack) with a fuller 9 speed, real flying machines but lethal if you had to go anywhere solo 
Steady up 5th wheel, don’t recall anyone saying you were stupid reference the 8 cyl 240 gardner in the Big J.
This is what I said :-
Really don’t remember any GUY BJ’s with the 240,s mostly, they had either the 180, 205, or 220 ■■■■■■■■ in them. Some ERF’s I believe did have the straight 8. However, someone with more knowledge and a better memory may well remember differently, I wait to be corrected.
I know Alex very well via this site, and I’m sure both he and you are very knowledgeable about Smiths, and that if they fitted them, then they did. My comment was that I don’t remember them, not during the time I was there. The fleet numbers then were in the 400’s early 500’s so by the time they got to the 900’s, and the last of the J’s, then obviously they were fitted. I know that some of Smith’s Guys had the ■■■■■■■ V6, and the AEC 505, some AEC Mandators, the V8 with semi-auto transmission, but these were not the “norm” and were a minority in the fleet for sure, and I’d include the 240 in that minority, as most drivers, like myself, would have had the ■■■■■■■ 180 / 220 or the Gardner 180.
It’s over 40 years ago since I drove for Smith’s, and the old memory bank fades in and out with recollections, as to what, where, and when, and things sometimes do get muddled up. But I would never call anyone stupid for any comments made! well, except Mappo of course, but then he is !!! 
Hi Fergie,
I trust your Xmas and New Year went well!!
My reply was to “Bewick”,he sounded so emphatic that no way could you fit a 240 into a Guy,I felt I had to emphasise my point,so I did it my way,although I am having doubts on the 120’s for the OCL Contract,they were probably 150’s,not sure,but I am sure about the 240,pulled like a train,a vastly better machine than any 180,but hey ho!!!
Rgds,
David
Hiya I’ve just been looking at my little book and shock horror. A Guy Big J and seddon 32 four both have a 2 inch longer wheelbase than a A series ERF which we all know had a 8lxb fitted. I can’nt think of a 8cyl Guy BUT i can confirm Seddon fitted a 8lxb with a sleeper cab which was quite rare.Sod thats another photo i’ll have to find.As i have written before Tideswells of Kingsley had a Volvo F 88 with a 8lxb fitted. Volvo didn’t like that on much.
John.
Fergie47:
Steady up 5th wheel, don’t recall anyone saying you were stupid reference the 8 cyl 240 gardner in the Big J.This is what I said :-
Really don’t remember any GUY BJ’s with the 240,s mostly, they had either the 180, 205, or 220 ■■■■■■■■ in them. Some ERF’s I believe did have the straight 8. However, someone with more knowledge and a better memory may well remember differently, I wait to be corrected.
I know Alex very well via this site, and I’m sure both he and you are very knowledgeable about Smiths, and that if they fitted them, then they did. My comment was that I don’t remember them, not during the time I was there. The fleet numbers then were in the 400’s early 500’s so by the time they got to the 900’s, and the last of the J’s, then obviously they were fitted. I know that some of Smith’s Guys had the ■■■■■■■ V6, and the AEC 505, some AEC Mandators, the V8 with semi-auto transmission, but these were not the “norm” and were a minority in the fleet for sure, and I’d include the 240 in that minority, as most drivers, like myself, would have had the ■■■■■■■ 180 / 220 or the Gardner 180.
It’s over 40 years ago since I drove for Smith’s, and the old memory bank fades in and out with recollections, as to what, where, and when, and things sometimes do get muddled up. But I would never call anyone stupid for any comments made! well, except Mappo of course, but then he is !!!
Hiya Fergie and 5th Wheel hope you both had a braw new year and I wish you both "ah the best "for 2010 !! Well now the object of the excercise was not to cause uproar between former SOM drivers but just to pose legit qestions about the SOM fleet and with regard to 8LXBs and Big Js I was admittedly curious as to did GUYs ever indeed fit the odd Big J with an 8LXB ? Bearing in mind that Guy’s were very much the poor relation in the British Leyland empire !! I know Guys fitted a number of different engines as stated in previous threads but the 8LXB was and would have been at the extreme margins of what Leyland would have allowed the Wolverhamton factory to build and remember the Big J was indeed an economy fleet tractor by the time the 8LXB came out and the Premium manufactures demands out paced Gardner production. I have a book on Gardner engines in the attic but its too bleeding taters to go up and look at the moment Brrrrr! as I am sure that all the engine deliveries to the various truck builders are listed year on year so maybe I can shed some light on the matter !! Better still I wish a former Guy chap or SOM engineer could nail it !!! Anyway here’s another for you lads----Where did Murray Smith figure if at all in the SOM saga ■■ I remember his Big Js ( White/Blue/Orange I think ?) were they all fitted with 8LXBs I wonder !!! No 5th Wheel only joking put me down and let go of me !!! Cheers Bewick.
Fergie47:
A few Smiths pic’s, sorry to those who have seen them before on other threads
Loading Monsanto, Hythe, Soton, with 40’ Highway spread axle trl, for Stockon.
RMS39G my wagon for a year or two when “tramping”
Jock McDonald, R.I.P. Loaded ISR rubber for either Glasgow, or Edinburgh
Shunting the Stockton wagon, outside my Mothers house, dropped in for tea !! Well, you could in those days,!! no tacho, no phones, no one looking over your shoulder, easy days !!
The 40’ bouncy Highway trl again.!! Waiting loading instructions in Cornwall, having delivered to the RAF base at Helston.
Loaded lead ingots from Fareham, on the good, solid old Bowden 33’ trl, destination, Doonray powerstation, longest UK trips I did for Smiths.
Loaded drums of chemicals, Ex Union Carbide, Hythe, for Glasgow.Those were the days, when you took you wagon home.!!!
Hiya Fergie regarding 40ft widespread trailers !! A small firm I aquired in the early 70s came with 7 trailers 5 of which were C/F widespreads and they were rock steady to pull and one of them was a PSK and if you dropped it on un-- even ground it would stand on one leg and didn’t twist the other down into the hole !! but I agree that tyre wear was bad ! I never had any experience with other makes but I can only assume that the Highways weren’t as well made as the Crane Fruehauf !! Cheers Bewick.
Bewick:
Fergie47:
Hiya Fergie and 5th Wheel hope you both had a braw new year and I wish you both "ah the best "for 2010 !! Well now the object of the excercise was not to cause uproar between former SOM drivers but just to pose legit qestions about the SOM fleet and with regard to 8LXBs and Big Js I was admittedly curious as to did GUYs ever indeed fit the odd Big J with an 8LXB ? Bearing in mind that Guy’s were very much the poor relation in the British Leyland empire !! I know Guys fitted a number of different engines as stated in previous threads but the 8LXB was and would have been at the extreme margins of what Leyland would have allowed the Wolverhamton factory to build and remember the Big J was indeed an economy fleet tractor by the time the 8LXB came out and the Premium manufactures demands out paced Gardner production. I have a book on Gardner engines in the attic but its too bleeding taters to go up and look at the moment Brrrrr! as I am sure that all the engine deliveries to the various truck builders are listed year on year so maybe I can shed some light on the matter !! Better still I wish a former Guy chap or SOM engineer could nail it !!! Anyway here’s another for you lads----Where did Murray Smith figure if at all in the SOM saga ■■ I remember his Big Js ( White/Blue/Orange I think ?) were they all fitted with 8LXBs I wonder !!! No 5th Wheel only joking put me down and let go of me !!! Cheers Bewick.
Beswick
Yep a nice Xmas and new year, and you ? hope you didn’t sink too many pink gins and sherries ?
Red/ white / blue / orange Guy BJ. NOW I can answer on some authority on this one, as I drove it for a time at Southampton, LWG319F. fl no SD435. Just one of the Smith fleet, nothing unusual about it, except the colour scheme. It was the only one painted like that , with Smiths Continental Belgium on the door, and on the front. Alas, it still only had the 180 ■■■■■■■■ with a very stubby exhaust, which, if I listen carefully, I can still hear now. Probably why I’m going deaf !! As far as I’m aware, it never did any serious continental work, but rumor has it , it go to go to Belgium, once, before I got. It had two 33’ tilt trailers, in simular livery, which I got to pull out of the docks, ex Belgium, from time to time.
I have a lovely colour photo of it, but don’t think I’m allowed to post it, it may infringe someone’s copy write ? although I think it was a Smith publicity photo. Can someone let me know ■■
Guy must have fitted a lot of different engines of various configeration and hp over the years, so not suprising that we never got to see all of them.
Anyway, hope we’re all buddies now, no falling out, as we’re all Smiths boys !!
Fergie47:
Bewick:
Fergie47:
Hiya Fergie and 5th Wheel hope you both had a braw new year and I wish you both "ah the best "for 2010 !! Well now the object of the excercise was not to cause uproar between former SOM drivers but just to pose legit qestions about the SOM fleet and with regard to 8LXBs and Big Js I was admittedly curious as to did GUYs ever indeed fit the odd Big J with an 8LXB ? Bearing in mind that Guy’s were very much the poor relation in the British Leyland empire !! I know Guys fitted a number of different engines as stated in previous threads but the 8LXB was and would have been at the extreme margins of what Leyland would have allowed the Wolverhamton factory to build and remember the Big J was indeed an economy fleet tractor by the time the 8LXB came out and the Premium manufactures demands out paced Gardner production. I have a book on Gardner engines in the attic but its too bleeding taters to go up and look at the moment Brrrrr! as I am sure that all the engine deliveries to the various truck builders are listed year on year so maybe I can shed some light on the matter !! Better still I wish a former Guy chap or SOM engineer could nail it !!! Anyway here’s another for you lads----Where did Murray Smith figure if at all in the SOM saga ■■ I remember his Big Js ( White/Blue/Orange I think ?) were they all fitted with 8LXBs I wonder !!! No 5th Wheel only joking put me down and let go of me !!! Cheers Bewick.
Beswick
Yep a nice Xmas and new year, and you ? hope you didn’t sink too many pink gins and sherries ?
Red/ white / blue / orange Guy BJ. NOW I can answer on some authority on this one, as I drove it for a time at Southampton, LWG319F. fl no SD435. Just one of the Smith fleet, nothing unusual about it, except the colour scheme. It was the only one painted like that , with Smiths Continental Belgium on the door, and on the front. Alas, it still only had the 180 ■■■■■■■■ with a very stubby exhaust, which, if I listen carefully, I can still hear now. Probably why I’m going deaf !! As far as I’m aware, it never did any serious continental work, but rumor has it , it go to go to Belgium, once, before I got. It had two 33’ tilt trailers, in simular livery, which I got to pull out of the docks, ex Belgium, from time to time.
I have a lovely colour photo of it, but don’t think I’m allowed to post it, it may infringe someone’s copy write ? although I think it was a Smith publicity photo. Can someone let me know ■■Guy must have fitted a lot of different engines of various configeration and hp over the years, so not suprising that we never got to see all of them.
Anyway, hope we’re all buddies now, no falling out, as we’re all Smiths boys !!
Hey Fergie c’mon Pink gins !! ( I did have acouple of sherries with the wife at Xmas ) but Pink gins !!! you’ll have them Welsh lads thinking I’m riding on the wrong bus !! and that will never do !! I may have the same surname as James & Alex but I never got into the boardroom at Maddiston and the cocktail cabinet !!! Cheers Bewick.
Bewick,
Not fallen out with anyone,its just me being a bit reactive,if I have a few Glenmorangie’s I’m even worse!!!
Take it easy,
Rgds
David
Fergie47:
Bewick:
Fergie47:
Hiya Fergie and 5th Wheel hope you both had a braw new year and I wish you both "ah the best "for 2010 !! Well now the object of the excercise was not to cause uproar between former SOM drivers but just to pose legit qestions about the SOM fleet and with regard to 8LXBs and Big Js I was admittedly curious as to did GUYs ever indeed fit the odd Big J with an 8LXB ? Bearing in mind that Guy’s were very much the poor relation in the British Leyland empire !! I know Guys fitted a number of different engines as stated in previous threads but the 8LXB was and would have been at the extreme margins of what Leyland would have allowed the Wolverhamton factory to build and remember the Big J was indeed an economy fleet tractor by the time the 8LXB came out and the Premium manufactures demands out paced Gardner production. I have a book on Gardner engines in the attic but its too bleeding taters to go up and look at the moment Brrrrr! as I am sure that all the engine deliveries to the various truck builders are listed year on year so maybe I can shed some light on the matter !! Better still I wish a former Guy chap or SOM engineer could nail it !!! Anyway here’s another for you lads----Where did Murray Smith figure if at all in the SOM saga ■■ I remember his Big Js ( White/Blue/Orange I think ?) were they all fitted with 8LXBs I wonder !!! No 5th Wheel only joking put me down and let go of me !!! Cheers Bewick.
Beswick
Yep a nice Xmas and new year, and you ? hope you didn’t sink too many pink gins and sherries ?
Red/ white / blue / orange Guy BJ. NOW I can answer on some authority on this one, as I drove it for a time at Southampton, LWG319F. fl no SD435. Just one of the Smith fleet, nothing unusual about it, except the colour scheme. It was the only one painted like that , with Smiths Continental Belgium on the door, and on the front. Alas, it still only had the 180 ■■■■■■■■ with a very stubby exhaust, which, if I listen carefully, I can still hear now. Probably why I’m going deaf !! As far as I’m aware, it never did any serious continental work, but rumor has it , it go to go to Belgium, once, before I got. It had two 33’ tilt trailers, in simular livery, which I got to pull out of the docks, ex Belgium, from time to time.
I have a lovely colour photo of it, but don’t think I’m allowed to post it, it may infringe someone’s copy write ? although I think it was a Smith publicity photo. Can someone let me know ■■Guy must have fitted a lot of different engines of various configeration and hp over the years, so not suprising that we never got to see all of them.
Anyway, hope we’re all buddies now, no falling out, as we’re all Smiths boys !!
OK Fergie & 5th Wheel re. Guy/Gardner saga !! I braved sub zero tempratures and went up into the loft to-day and dug out my Gardner book !From 1967to 1975 Guy took anywhere between 11% & 20% of Gardner production e.g.1968/732 engines (20%) 1971/525 engines (11: 5 %) In comparison to ERF who took double this number over the same period. Unfortunatley the list dosen’t give a breakdown of engine type (6LXB/8LXB) which I thought it might — ■■■■ it 5thwheel is still in with a chance !! However the book does state that because of sheer demand Gardner always charged a £1000 surcharge over and above the price of the engine so by the time the vehicle builders grossed this upit became in ERFs case a £3000 surcharge when compared a ■■■■■■■ chassis! So I am still finding it difficult to believe that the accountants at United Group would allow their subsiduaries to pay through the nose for an economy fleet tractor such as a Guy ! But I will hold my hand up if SOM ran some 8LXBs !! and another thing nobody has posted anything about Murray Smith !! Stay Warm Bewick.
Hi Bewick,
Not sure when United became the SoM parent company,may have been post my days.
Re Murray Smith,I feel fairly confident that Murray Smith was a relation of Alex/James Smith,but how,I dont know,I have tried Googling it,no luck there either.
Take it easy,
Rgds,
David
,
5thwheel:
Hi Bewick,Not sure when United became the SoM parent company,may have been post my days.
Re Murray Smith,I feel fairly confident that Murray Smith was a relation of Alex/James Smith,but how,I dont know,I have tried Googling it,no luck there either.
Take it easy,
Rgds,
David
Hi David I think SOM was bought out around 1964 but it could have been as late as '68 can’t recall exactly !! Murray Smith was Alex’s son I believe although I am not sure what if any his involment was at the family firm ? Catch you on th ice Bewick.
Hi Bewick,
I did not realise it at the time,but SoM were obviously part of the United Group when I was driving for them in the 70’s,funny, don’t remember anyone talking about United Group during my time with them,although come to think of it,Jameson’s used to park their tilt trailers @ the Manchester Depot,and I think they had United Group on the tilt,might be wrong,but seems familiar?
Jameson’s trailers could also be pulled by a train as they had steel wheels inbetween the double roadwheels that were spaced to fit the continental gauge railway lines.
Great days,or so they say!!!
Take it easy,
Rgds,
David