It seems that once again Bigloryblog has tapped into a fascinating vein...this time on R.J.Norman, the Barnsley-based tipper operator. Having been reminded by Richard Stanier that they called all their trucks 'Midnight...'something' (and that they ran a Bedford TM as well as bonneted Macks) I've been contacted on this happy day by BLB's 'Man North 'o' the Border' John Henderson who provides this great contribution: "Hi Brian, I liked your picture of R.J. Norman's Mack and remember the advert well. Norman's trio of Macks were named Midnight Hobo, Midnight Star and Midnight Glory and all were regular visitors to Scotland in the days when I was a trucking mad teenager."
With no internet or BLB in those days, my information files on firms further afield were boosted via a hand written letter to the company in question, politely requesting some more details. R.J. Norman duly obliged with the nice wee reply. I've also attached the cover of a Bedford UK range brochure form the same era, which is quite relevant.
'Hope this is of interest, Best regards,
John
And here's a blown up section of R.J.Norman's letter to John detailing all the trucks that had been named.
And well done R.J.Norman for satisfying the needs of a truck-hungry youngster, How many companies would have simply chucked that kind of letter in the bin. But not RJN!.
And for those Biglorryblog readers who'd like to read more about R.J.Norman and see a shot of the Atki Midnight Phantom there's a terrific thread on one of the TruckNetUK forums on RJM. Only the other day my good mate and TruckNet UK community manager Rikki Chequer and I were trying to figure out how to boost traffic between BLB and TruckNetUK's forums---well here's the perfect opportunity! So get clicking http://trucknetuk.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=426875
And click through here to see the complete letter...
Interestingly enough the Atki pictured on the top of the letter is called 'Midnight Hustler' while the F88 Volvo is called 'Midnight Princess'---and trust me even if you can't see it I can as John kindly sent me a full size copy of the original. So whatever happened to R.J.Norman? I did a quick google search and didn't come up with anything other than my Biglorryblog posts and TruckNetUK forum thread..
And guess who posted the pic of 'Midnight Phantom' on Trucknet! But it's a newer lorry than the one mentioend in John's letter, above.
Joihn - great to read about Normans. Methinks there's a great story to find there - if I can trace a suitable Norman. Or ex manager or ex driver.
Hi Brian ,and all at Big Lorry Blog.Warm new years greetings from a chilly Florida,no joking,there was ice on my windshield twice this week.Anyway,I must agree,the relationship between,Road Transport.com,Big Lorry Blog and Trucknet-UK is important and should be expanded.Whilst I still subscrie to,CM and T+D I enjoy their up to date info,I find BLB an extension to the mag"s,and lately,Trucknet.U.K a further extension.The forums are down to earth,thanks to the moderators.I recently posted on the old timers segment commenting on the Bedford TM.It,allows me to reminus,not only about road transport,but life in the U.K. Keep up the good work. PAUL J
Well its great to see these pic's as my Dad used to be a driver for RJ Norman great guy always looked after his drivers. My Dad drove one of the Atkinson Borders fitted with drop down ply bed,"Midnight Runner" always looked very smart on the roads, he was about to get the Bedford TM shown in the advert when he decided to leave for another job, as you did in the seventies!!
I can remember many early starts with Dad lots of blue smoke and trips around the UK with the dreaded Neval tipper trailer carying pig iron and scrap, these trailes tipped on the back wheels and often turned over.
I have many other life experiences to share both on and off the road as I now sit behind the desk as opposed to the wheel. Have worked for Christian Salvesen and then over to Russell Davies now with DHL..
Anyway thanks for reviving my happy memories and by the way the RJ trucks were always painted at a company called "DF Graysons" or "Grayston" in Rotherham not far from the old foootball ground..
Regards
Bob Naylor..
After 2 months off with a severely damaged left knee and at least another 2 months to go CDC at the Watling Street Cafe site are bereft of one of their star shop managers (me) for a while longer.However to start something off blogwise and get some thinking caps on,In the middle-late 80s working out of the Slip End nr Luton depot of Autocar the transporter people,was an S80 Foden artic transporter with a straight six 2 stroke Detroit engine in it.Anybody know anything please about this strange truck and its eventual fate.Was Foden doing an experiment at the time or what??.Views or memories by anybody??.
great to see this write up on rj norman
if any one as any pics of his lorries it would be nice to see them as im in the last stages of
making a die cast moddel of 1 of his atkinson borderer belived to have been named midnight cowboy and went in his new colours of white and red if any body has good pics that could help would be great cheers paul .bobonpaul@yahoo.co.uk