Wigan Album
Transport
14 CommentsPhoto: Ray Smyth
Item #: 29800
lorry for many years to carry finished goods
between Heinz at Standish,& Heinz at Kitt Green,
in the 1960s. I think that I know the location
of this picture, but I will wait and see what
other people think.
I think they were based just outside Golborne. They were on the right hand side coming from Abram before you turned down Edge Green Lane. The name Roy Twiss or similar rings a bell.
Wigan market place with the Old Dog pub behind the Lorry.
Blimey Ray, you don't half come up with 'em don't you? Where on earth did you dig this one up from? I used to drive a Mammoth Major just like the one in your photo in the late 60's, except mine had a tipper body. I had it's name sign written on the front ' Old Ugly Mug ' , this must be the one that Derrick was on about, the forerunner of the Tautliner. Difficult to believe now, but you'd only see a motor like this at a transport rally these days. And yet we used to run sugar from Earlestown up to Greenock in these things......37 mph top whack then slip it into Aberdeen overdrive at every opportunity. Grinding up over Shap in the days before the M6 was built.....happy times.....but difficult times nonetheless. I'd do it all over again starting tomorrow given the chance though. Regarding the location. Well at first, I thought Market St., but on reflection, I'm inclined to think DTease has probably nailed it. I ' suspect ' the man is more familiar with Wigan pubs than I am, so I'll go with Standishgate as well.
Regards. Ozy.
The "Benefit Footwear" shop on the right of the picture is
where "Greggs" is in Market Place.
Looks like Atkinson to me.
I suspect they weren't happy days.
Garry, everything looks like an Atkinson to you.
Spot on broady. There was a petrol pump on the front.The girl used to come out of a kiosk to fill your tank.
Knight of the road I don't suspect. We need to get all HGVs off our clogged up roads and back on the railways.
Good Grief Ozy! Howard P DOES NOT suspect something! Is it possible? Is this the end of the world has we know it? Repent all ye sinners! The end of the World is nigh! Time to pop your clogs, break into the kids piggy bank and max out the credit cards. Gather ye rose buds whilst ye may, Howard P has spoken.
Further to my earlier comment I have it on good authority that I was describing the Midway Filling Station. Midway Haulage were actually based across the road.
Midway haulage later became Hill's of Cardiff, I'm not sure when exactly. Late 60's, early 70's possibly. The name on the wagons changed obviously, but the red livery remained the same, and they also tended to run a lot of A.E.C s. just as Midway had done previously. I tried, unsuccessfully as it happens, to get a job there as a trailer mate in the early 60's. Unfortunately for me, at that time, wagon and drag outfits were beginning to be phased out in favour of the now ubiquitous articulated set up.
Re Midway haulage they used to to deliver to the midway cafe lower ince side of the canal and the cafe was one of the best for transport drivers that’s if you could find a place to park because the gas board drivers in their vans used to fill the place also three of midway drivers came to drive at Reed Albert Piece, Bill Bailey,and Norman Hornby sadly now all passed away
My dad drove for Midway when they had the Atkinsons. Jim Taylor.
They also had an AEC and later on got a Magirus Deutz (I think that one went down to South Wales)
They were based on Wigan Road, Golborne, next to the old Ski Yoghurt factory.
They also had a depot in Cardiff