PMB:
I have been researching this company for several years now, and have lots of information and photos pertaining to it.I am always keen to add more photos to my collection, and wondered if anyone out there who used to work for Smiths has any photos that they would be willing to share with me?
My e-mail address is
Thanks in advance
Paul,
As an ex SoM driver,I would relish a look at your photos on this site,and I am sure so would others!
Take it easy,
Rgds,
David 
Bewick:
5thwheel:
PMB:
Bewick:
PMB:
I have been researching this company for several years now, and have lots of information and photos pertaining to it.I am always keen to add more photos to my collection, and wondered if anyone out there who used to work for Smiths has any photos that they would be willing to share with me?
My e-mail address is
Thanks in advance
Have you any Reg.nos /Fleet nos.or information on SOM Guy Big Js fitted with the Gardner 8LXB engine ? If you have can you please put them on the thread as it will make a lot of old lads very happy and stop them from smashing into one another with their Zimmers !!Bewick.[/qu
Paul,
As an ex SoM Manchester driver,Bewick doubts that a 240 Guy ever existed,no matter that plenty of others have confirmed they existed[I drove one]without a picture,he is a very sceptical,some say sad, man!!
So anyone out there in the ethernet,lets have a picture to please an old man called Bewick!!
Hi All
I know of 2 x 240 gardner big jsOne was based at stockton depot fleet number TD858, the other was Maddiston based fleet number MD910 reg OWG 352M
Regards
Paul Bruce
Hiya Paul everyone talks about them(8LXBs) and there have been plenty of ■■■■■■■ Big Js on the thread but no photographic evidenceof the 8LXBs (similar situation as the Yeti in the Himalayas) who knows an SOM 8LXB driven by a Yeti might be sighted on Shap summit any day !! ( Oh sorry it was a Maddiston night man)Bewick.
Dennis,
There were a couple of Maddiston night men that resembled a Yeti,no names though,you know what Yeti’s are like when they are upset!!!
Rgds,
David
nd 887 nd888(tommy doyles moter) nd889 these were glasgow depots 240s that done the night trunk to st albans quick story my old man was the st alb yard forman got a phone call from glasgow at 6am saying tommy doyle was running late as he didnt leave glasgow till 11.45pm as my dad put the phone down tommy walked in the office with his notes 6and a quarter hours glasgow to st albans and this was in the early 70s
reagle ill do it:
nd 887 nd888(tommy doyles moter) nd889 these were glasgow depots 240s that done the night trunk to st albans quick story my old man was the st alb yard forman got a phone call from glasgow at 6am saying tommy doyle was running late as he didnt leave glasgow till 11.45pm as my dad put the phone down tommy walked in the office with his notes 6and a quarter hours glasgow to st albans and this was in the early 70s
I bet “Big Hughie” asked him where he’d been “hing’en aboot up the road!!” but I would also say that a Big J 220 ■■■■■■■ would could have done the same trunk in the same time!All the best to you SOM lads Bewick.
did you know my dad then
reagle ill do it:
did you know my dad then
Hiya “reagle” yes I can remember Hughie but it is many years ago 68/69/70 when Harold Dunkley J & W watts manager used to send me into the SOM depot at St. Albans to collect odd bits Smiths had for my home patch of the then county of Westmorland and Furness.I have also loaded Ford tractors off SOM trailers and also from Brentwood.I was always in a hurry as I would call at the depot on my way up the road and never had a lot of room left on my D1000 but Hughie would say “lift yer skin son and I’ll pit it on tap wi’ the Hyster”!! One thing I remember is he never held me up!! I was 21/22 years old and the world was my oyster but I will always remember Hughie he was one of the “diamonds” in the transport world during the era I am talking about.You remember guy’s like him because they new the game and the need to “crack on” standing about was a no no!! Happy Memories Cheers Bewick.
gallery/album.php?album_id=280
this is my album of some of my photos of Smith’s lorries.
One passed on here from John Gibb.
And this one is a Roger Kenny picture taken from his “Views of the north” book.
It states it was taken outside Alex Scott’s Manchester works who Smith’s had taken over.
TIPIT:
One passed on here from John Gibbs.
The photo was actualy taken by Arthur Ingram and is from a collection of photos I have purchased from him over the years.
Jameson wasn’t they taken over by Smith of Maddison
Hi Stanfield,
This picture was taken at the North St Cheetham Hill Depot in Manchester,the SoM storage sheds in the background,although they frequently were seen in the yard,loading/unloading for the Continent,they were not part of the Smith Group,although they MAY have been part of United Transport Group,of which SoM were a member,trust this helps with your enquiry,
Rgds,
David
Hi David Thanks for the reply.The reason I asked was the caption which was with the photo said they had been acquired by Smiths soon after the picture was taken,and I wasn’t certain if they were or not.
Cheers JOHN
John,
As this refers to a date considerably before my days @ SoM ,the mid 70’s,that article appears correct,even down to SoM Fleet No OD[Manchester]742,I never saw the Scania in the SoM fleet,I stand corrected and apologise if I have mislead you,although it was purely unintentional I can assure you.
Take it easy,
Regards,
David
Hi David.No problem at all,just was’nt sure myself if they were part of the SOM group.Thanks for the reply.
All the best JOHN.
reagle ill do it:
did you know my dad then
I did Robin, and I remember you well as a lad. Best damned yard shunter we had in Smith’s Depot, Hatfield Road, even before you left school.
I was shunting out of there myself for a while, before I went back to low loaders. That would be around 1974/5 I reckon?
Remember J&J Campbell of Fenwick and Colney Heath? I drove for them before I came to Smiths. I got fed up with Smith’s trunkers overtaking me on the M6. I was doing the same run, a lot slower, in a Leyland Beaver or an AEC Chinese six, artics. The Campbell Brios wouldn’t pay the money that Smith’s did, so I deserted and joined the A team.
I think your dad’s predecessor as yard foreman was a fella called ‘Smith’ who lived in Sandfield Road, almost next door to where I was born.
One thing that stands out about Smith’s trunkers. On dipped beam their headlights were always set slightly higher than everyone else’s. You could see them coming up behind you for miles. (Or were they all just overloaded?)
After 30 years on the road I’m now shunting a narrowboat around the system. Much more relaxing, though I still use a dolly knot when mooring up.
canaldrifter
(Tone)
Canaldrifter was there a driver on for Campbell called Carter he stayed in Kirkconnel and I am sure he was on for them.Eddie.
erfguy:
Canaldrifter was there a driver on for Campbell called Carter he stayed in Kirkconnel and I am sure he was on for them.Eddie.
Was his name Dennis Carter? Ex SAS?
Tone
Gardner 8lxb 240
Hi everyone i used to be a fitter for SoM and well remember removing, rebuilding and replacing a gardner 8lxb in a guy big j, this was at Smiths Thornaby depot before they moved to new premises in Portrack lane Stockton on tees.It was a real pain of a job, no tilt cabs in those days.
Hello Tone
Dennis does ring a bell,would I be right in saying he was on a Leyland octopus I did’nt know him well only met him twice over 40yrs ago,I believe his family are still in Kirkconnel.
Eddie.
He would have been driving one of two blue Leyland Beavers or the AEC twin steer.
If it was him I used to change over trailers, or sometimes the whole rigs with him at Forton or Charnock Richard services at about 1am.
Once there was a bomb scare while we were eating in the high level restaurant. Everyone was ushered out into the car park, but Dennis wouldn’t leave until he’d finished his tea and plate of chips. The place was empty apart from him and me, and I was eager to get out. He took his time. then blow me if he didn’t pour me and him a second free cup from behind the counter! Meanwhile the car park filled up with blue lights, police, bomb disposal and the fire brigade.
Eventually he checked his watch and decided it was time to go. I followed him down stairs to the foyer. In the middle of it was an old suitcase. Dennis strolled up to it and kicked it over.
“That’s no a bomb,” he announced.
In the car park everyone stepped back a few paces. As we went out through the glass doors, Dennis handed the dumb-struck manageress his cup.
“I think this is yours,” he said, politely.
We changed trailers, crossed the service bridge and went our separate ways, him northwards, me southwards, and me marvelling at how calm he had been… until about 50 miles later I realised that he was the one who put that suitcase there, just for a laugh!
he was all right was Dennis.
Tone