bird's eye view by the hawk Congnetcial Motor takes road
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haulage very seriously. However, once a week our mirky correspondent, the Hawk, steps off his perch to take a humorous look at the industry to keep us al sane. If you have any off-beat yarns that ilustrate the stranger, or her, side of the business he'd le to hear from you. As a softhearted old bird he's also happy to pithicise chartable works— and is always iderested ii events for the virtage vehicles he drove as a Hedging. Drip the Haut a line at Commercial Motor, Bids Eye View, Rm H203, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS, sr fax lir ON OM 652 8969.
Kings of the road
s the sun sets over his humble south London abode, the Hawk settles down in his favourite chair with a cuppa and a copy of Bob Tuck's latest book 100 Years of Heavy Haulage. What bliss! Bob's book is choc-a-bloc with pictures illustrating the history of heavy haulage from the days of steam to present times. Among the earliest examples is one showing a Pickford's traction engine—a 1901 Burrell—in 1905, which almost justifies the company's advertising slogan: "Which came fitstPickford's or road haulage?"
A fascinating series of photographs follows the final journey of a whale which was beached in Langness on the Isle of Man in 1925. The 50ft carcass, weighing 30 tonnes, was removed by haulage contractor Bobby Shimmin in a 1912 Fowler 6hp no 13285 engine.
Jumping forward in time to 1988, Roger Mortimore had the tricky problem of transporting the largest level crossing gates in Europe for the aircraft taxiway at Heathrow. Roger devised a special semi-trailer 115ft long and it is reported that he had to ask a jumbo jet to move out of the way.
A comprehensive pictorial record of the industry, 100 Years of Heavy Haulage is available in hard back at £17.95. Autographed or dedicated copies can be bought direct from Bob at Tofts Close, Low Worsall, Yartn, Cleveland, TS15 9QA, with £1.55 added for p&p.