It seems that, like the death of Mark Twain, reports of the demise of the Royal Mail in the face of the growing onslaught of private mail contractors are premature. Why does Biglorryblog say that? Well RM must be doing something right. The Cartwright Group has just supplied it with its biggest-ever order for trailers as part of the postal company’s drive to go green. And they didn't get them for nothing.
The 13.6 metre long, 4.44 metre high, GRP van-sided stepframe, triaxle double-deck trailers come with a hydraulic moving deck floor and each one can hold approximately 100,000 items of mail – the equivalent of a day’s post for Carlisle. (Why Carlisle I have no idea---but that's what the press blurb says.)
Meanwhile, the 140 double-deck trailers from the Altrincham-based manufacturer can carry 50% more mail than conventional single-deckers and according to Steven Cartwright: “It's obviously very satisfying to conclude such a major deal with the Royal Mail. Everyone at the Cartwright Group is delighted that the Royal Mail has again come to us to meet their trailer needs".
Meanwhile, Royal Mail Network Director Paul Tolhurst tells Biglorryblog: “We are motoring towards our goal of creating a greener transport fleet. Measures such as the double-deck trailers help improve our efficiency and we know that improved business performance goes hand in hand with improved environmental performance.’’
Royal Mail turned to Cartwright to help reduce the environmental impact of its distribution network. It estimates that the Cartwright trailers will reduce the road miles and carbon emissions of that part of its operation by 20%. This is the latest in a series of deals between the two companies which have seen the manufacturer produce innovative trailers to meet Royal Mail’s specific needs.
Re: your question regarding 1964 picture of Scammel in McKelvie & Co livery. Yes Jim McKelvie was a director in that family business