I knew I could rely on Biglorryblog's 'Man North 'o' the Border' John Henderson. Having asked if he knew about the company called Northwards that I spotted on my recent trip to Orkney he's naturally come up with the goods on them----and a picture too. "Hello Brian, It's good to see you back on BLB and I'm glad you enjoyed the holiday in Orkney. I hope you took full culinary advantage of the local super fresh sea food and the plentiful availability of free range haggis." I did John--although I got the haggis as part of a 'Full Scottish Breakfast' at a fabulous B&B in Perth on the way home! But I digress. John goes on to say: "Northwards is a very smart outfit that delivers the essential supplies services to all the islands of the north and to quote directly from their interesting website (www.northwardsltd.co.uk) 'the company was formed in 2002 after a management buyout from P&O Scottish Ferries Ltd of their freight, haulage and maintenance operations in and between Aberdeen, Orkney and Shetland.' I've attached a picture from 2007's Truckfest Scotland of a trio of their smart Mercs. Sadly I did not see them at the Ingliston showground last weekend, but perhaps the diesel cost of travelling down put them off, who could blame them?"
Now click through here for more on smart Scottish fleets...
John continues: "I suspect you would see a fair few of D. Steven's fine machines on your travels, so I've also enclosed a picture from the late 1990's taken at Wick harbour. The company still have a historic presence in this town, but as you will have observed Scrabster is where it all happens nowadays. Cheers for now, John...."
Well as it happens John we DID see quite a few of 'Wick's finest' on the road going up to Scrabster and particular on the way back down to Inverness on the A9---and that IS a road to test a laden artic, especially those two hairpin bends and the climbs out of them...Indeed on the return journey, once I'd pointed them out to her, Mrs BLB got quite adept at spotting them approaching---I think it was the horses' heads on the front she particularly liked (probably from her days as a mafia hit-man). Anyway although they were all Scanias, here's a picture for you John of a time when they had a few Mercs too. This line-up is of four 06-reg Actros artics.
A very tidy fleet! I wonder if the Mercs are still there...anyone?
Hi,
Tidy fleet alright, they only run 3 of the Mercs as one was written off in an accident last month.
Nice to see us Northeners get a mention on BLB!
Nebver mind the trucks, have you got a picture of the breakfast?