Pickfords

Pickfords

Type	Public
Founded	circa 1695
Headquarters	London, United Kingdom
Industry	Integrated Transport Logistics

Pickfords is a moving company based in the United Kingdom, part of the Moving Services Group UK and a member of the British Association of Removers - one of the world's largest removal company networks. The business is believed to have been founded in the 17th century, making it one of the UK's oldest functioning companies. The Pickfords family of Adlington, South of Manchester, and later of nearby Poynton, first entered the wagon trade in the 17th century.

The business evolved through mergers with the firm moving into heavy haulage in the 20th century as steam powered and the Diesel haulage took off as industry expanded. The firm adsorbed many firms and was nationalised in the middle part of the 20th century along with most of the industry. The Modern firm is no longer involved in Heavy haulage

History

Origins

A Haualage demonstration at GDSF in 2008, 3 ex pickfords trucks (2 Diamond T's and a Scammell Contractor are pulled by 3 steam tractors round the haulage ring hill.

A Guy Vixen bodied as a furniture van in the livery of Pickfords fleet no. M2255

The earliest record is of a William Pickford, a carrier who worked south of Manchester in 1630. In 1646 a north-country yeoman by the name of Thomas Pickford had his lands confiscated by Parliament for gun-running and supporting the Cavaliers]] during the English Civil War.

By 1695 the Pickfords' family were engaged in supplying quarry stone by packhorse for the construction of turnpike roads; instead of the packhorses returning with empty loads, they carried goods for third parties.

In 1756 the company relocated to London and in 1776 it invented the fly wagon which could travel from London to Manchester in the then fast speed of four and a half days. A year later it bought the carrier business of William Bass, a Staffordshire haulier who carried ale for a local brewer. With the funds Bass went on to form a brewery which still bears his name today (But is owned by Coors of the USA).

In the 1779 it entered the canal industry as well (from which it withdrew in 1850). In the 19th century, it operated wagons on other companies' railway tracks, but this was contentious, and eventually this service was eliminated.

In 1816 the company was close to bankruptcy after many years of decline. The Pickford family sold out to a number of businessmen led by Joseph Baxendale, whose family become instrumental in running the company for over a century. For being late in delivering a miller's iron shaft, Pickford's was involved in the famous English contract law case, Hadley v. Baxendale (1848), where the court held the company was not liable for unforeseeable losses resulting from Pickford's lateness in delivering goods.

In the 20th century the company switched to road haulage. During this time it formed a rivalry with fellow hauliers Carter Paterson with whom they later merged with Beans Express and London Parcel Delivery Company (amongst others) in 1912, although both kept their separate names for a period.

In 1905 Pickfords ordered a fleet of Eleven steam wagons from the firm of E.S. Hindley of Bourton in Dorset.

In 1907 they order two Commer cars.

In 1920 the company was sold again, to Hays Wharf Limited, on the back of a burgeoning post-World War I home removals business - Pickfords still continued to operate under that name. In turn Hays Wharf was taken over by the four main British railway companies in 1934 and was subsequently nationalised in 1947 as part of British Road Services and what would become the National Freight Corporation (NFC) in the 1969.

In 1921 Pickfords atart carrying petrol in bulk tankers. (A restored Tractor unit and tanker can be seen in Pickfords colours at some classic vehicle events).

By 1922 Pickfords are trying out Heavy trucks with Petrol engines from the Swiss firm Saurer Motor Company, and have introduced pneumatic tyres on removal van fleet.

In 1940 Pickfords move (evacuate) the BBC from London to Bristol.

Nationalisation occurs in 1947. As British Road Services formed.

BRS (Pickfords) Ltd formed as an operating division of BRS in 1953.

1963 see the National Transport commission dismantled and become part of the Transport Holding Company. Which in 1969 becomes the National Freight Corporation owned by the Government. NFC is latter sold off in the 1980s as part of the Privatisation plan by Mrs Thatcher.

Heavy Haulage

In 1942 the Heavy Haulage division moves Mulberry harbour sections (temporary harbour) to sea launching sites prior to them being towed across the channel for the "D-day" landings.

As part of the NFC they were involved in a wide range of haulage activities including heavy haulage (moving oversize loads) during the 1950s to 80s. The company absorbed several well known haulage companies during this period but then withdrew from this sector. A number of former Pickfords vehicles have been preserved and can be seen at events, demonstrating moving outsize loads along with the earlier steam tractors(photo above).

Globalisation

The National Freight Consortium, as it was subsequently re-named, was privatised via a sale to employees in 1982 and Pickfords was subsequently sold to the American company Allied Van Lines in a deal worth $400 million, The company was then sold again becoming part of Sirva in 2002.

In 2008 Sirva hit financial difficulties and the Pickfords business was to be sold to the Anglo-American company TEAM Group. But this deal fell through and the companies UK and Irish operations was sold to a Private Investor and became part of the Moving Services Group UK.

Allied Pickfords is a quality assured company with over 800 branches globally. Allied Pickfords is now the world's largest global network.

The UK Operations are now based in a new HQ in Wembley London.

Subsidiaries

Allied Pickfords Australia

Allied Pickfords Australia is the largest moving company in Australia. Allied Pickfords’ Australian operations commenced in 1982, when British-based company Pickfords purchased Downard Transport Industries in Australia to form Downard Pickfords. In 1991, the name of the company was then changed to Allied Pickfords.

Pickfords Fleet (Heavy Haulage)

List of former Pickfords Fleet members

Reg No.	Make (if known)	Model	Capacity	Fleet No.	Photo	Notes
ALR 177B	Atkinson	Atkinson Semi-Bonneted	?	M3444		Ballasted Tractor
JLD 701K	Atkinson	Venturer	?	M6865
JLD 708K	Atkinson	Venturer	?	M6872
AMH 536H	Atkinson	Viewline	?	?
AMH 540H	Atkinson	Viewline	?	M5727		Ballast tractor
EMD 518J	Atkinson	Viewline	55 GTW	M6728		1971
WYO 309H	Atkinson	Viewline	?	M6210
XYM 419N	Atkinson	Venturer	?	?
GUV 381N	Atkinson	Venturer	?	?
TSY 332	Diamond T	?	?	M4052		at Wirall Transport Museum
EGG 160	Diamond T	M20	?	M6020
VM 2110	Fowler	no. 17105	ATLAS	?		Road Locomotive
UYL 810S	GUY	Big J4T	?	M6734
VYK 911S	MAN	320	?	M ?
VXD 530	Scammell	Junior Constructor 6x4	? ton	M2070		Resolute in Paul Hammond collection
VXD 532 ?	Scammell	Junior Constructor 6x4	? ton	M2073
VXD 551	Scammell	Scammell Highwayman 4x2	?ton	M ?
PUC 471	Scammell	Constructor	? ton	M ?
PUC 472	Scammell	Constructor	? ton	M ?
PUC 473	Scammell	Constructor	? ton	M ?
PUC 474	Scammell	Constructor	? ton	M ?
PUC 475	Scammell	Constructor	? ton	M1011	To add	1955 - Only survivor of 5 in fleet
EYF 886J	Scammell	Samson ?	85 GTW	M1752		1971
ESJ 622	Scammell	Constructor	? ton	M2301		Now in Tony Jordan collection
UDL 664	Scammell	Constructor	? ton	M ?		In preservation (not in Pickfords colours)
876 BGJ	Scammell	Super Constructor 6x6	? ton	M2595	To add
GXV 657	Scammell	Scammell ?	? ton	M4227
SDJ 803F	Scammell	Contractor	? ton	M5 ?
SYO 385F	Scammell	Contractor 6x4	240 ton	M5035 ?		One of fleet of 6 custom built for HH in 1960s
VLH 427G	Scammell	Contractor 6x4	125 ton	M5676		One of several bought new by Pickfords in 1969
WYO 293H	Scammell	Contractor 6x4	240 ton	M6206		One of fleet of 6 custom built for HH in 1960s
XUU 925T	Scammell	Contractor Mk II 6x4	240 ton	M ?		One of 2 built for Pickfords in 1970s (4 more built)
XUU 919T	Scammell	Contractor MkII 6x4	240 ton	M ?		One of 2 built for Pickfords in 1970s (4 more built)
XUU 908T	Scammell	Crusader 6x4		M9532
579 EYO	Scammell	Super Highwayman	65 ton	M3023		One of 3 built for pickfords
HYH 32	Scammell	20LA	Capacity ?	M4667		Ballast Tractor Photo on CCMV.fotopic.net
NXP 568	Scammell	20LA 4x2	?	M8637		1954
NGF 120	Scammell	20LA	4x2	M750		Ballast Tractor
G958 ARJ	Volvo	F12 8x4	?	?		Ballasted Tractor
Please add any missing vehicles
To add a new entry see EDIT button in top left of this table. please create a page (link) for any individual vehicles own article by linking the reg or serial number using reg number or fleet number in the relevant column. Then once saved click the red link to start the new page and add more detailed info on that vehicles own page.
Reg no.	Make	Model no.	Capacity ?	Fleet no.		Type of unit

Former Pickfords Heavy Haulage fleet vehicles

A number of former Pickfords Heavy Haulage vehicles are in preservation in the UK. These an be seen at events such as Great Dorset Steam Fair, demonstrating moving large loads. Several specialist Trailers in Pickfords colours are also preserved.

Specialist books on heavy haulage feature photos of the moving of special loads by Pickfords and other Heavy Haulage Contractors.

• Loads moved include Turbinia the 1894 built steam turbine powered launch moved to a new home in Newcastle's discovery museum in 1994 by Pickfords Volvo F12 G958 ARJ.
• In the 1980s they moved several LU rail cars

Former Pickfords Fleet Trucks in Preservation

Reg No.	Make	Model	Build year	Capacity	Former Fleet No.	Current Owner	Image	Notes (were photo is / misc info)
NGF 120	Scammell	Scammell 20LA	1952	? ton	M750	Owner ?		At Belvoir Castle show 2009
OGT 243	Scammell	Scammell 15LA	1953	? ton	M924	Owner ?		On CCMV.fotopic.net
PUC 745	Scammell	Constructor	1955	? ton	M1011	Owner ?		On CCMV.fotopic.net
UXC 619	Scammell	Constructor	year ?	? ton	M1833	owner ?		At Ardingly Vintage Vehicle Show
VXD 530	Scammell	Junior Constructor 6x4	1958	? ton	M2070	Paul Hammond collection		At Rushden Transport Cavalcade 2008 & Belvoir Castle show 2009
VXD 533	Scammell	Junior Constructor 6x4	1958	? ton	M2073	-
VXD 551	Scammell	Scammell Highwayman 4x2	1958	?ton	Fleet no ?	owner
784 XUG	Guy Motors	Guy Vixen	?	-	M2255	?		Wolverhampton Transport Rally 2011
ESJ 622	Scammell	Scammell Constructor	195	? ton	M2301	Tony Jordan
KYE 402	AEC	AEC Monarch	19?	? ton	M2931	?		At Hampshire Road Run for Commercial Vehicles 2009
876 BGJ	Scammell	Super Constructor 6x6	1961	? ton	M2595	Graham Booth Collection	To add	At Southport Vintage Rally
579 EYO	Scammell	Super Highwayman	1963	65 ton	M3023	owner ?		at Holcot Steam Rally 2008
ALR 177B	Atkinson	Atkinson Semi-Bonneted (specials)	1964	? ton	M3444	Bob Moody		at Pickering Steam Rally 2009
TSY 332	Diamond T	?	?	?	M4052	?		At Wirral Transport Museum Rally 2008 + Southport Vintage rally
GXC 554	Scammell	Scammell Chain Drive	1943	? ton	M4125	?		on CCMV.fotopic.net
KYY 254D	Scammell	Scammell Highwayman	1966	28 ton GTW	M4152	Dave Walker		Seen on Traction Talk
GXV 657	Scammell	?	?	?	M4227	Frank Hardern		At Shugborough Hall Rally
SDJ 803F	Scammell	Contractor	1968	? ton	M5236	Paul Raymond collection	-
AMH 540H	Atkinson	Viewline	19 ?	?	M5727	?	to add	Llandudno 2009
EGG 160	Diamond T	M20	1942	? ton	M6020	Graham Booth Collection	To add	At Southport Vintage Rally in 2009
WYO 293H	Scammell	Contractor 6x4	1970	240 ton	M6206	?		At Belvoir Castle show in 2008
PUC 475	Scammell	Constructor	1955	? ton	M8935	Graham Booth Collection	To add	At Southport Vintage Rally & Llandudno 2009
- [LA 7239] [THORNYCROFT ][1920-1929]
Add	known	trucks	here					Copy and paste line below to extend table
Reg no.	Make	Model no.	year	? ton	M???	Owner ?		Seen at / were featured

See also

• Ballast tractor
• Specialist trailer builders
• Specialist truck builders
• List of Truck Manufacturers

Collecting related

• Collectable Models - a number of Pickfords vehicle models have been produced by Corgi and others.
• Shows and Meets
• Clubs Listing
• Collections
• Bibliography List of Books

External links

• Pickfords web site
• Allied Pickfords Australian web site
• Pickfords Yesterday (history)
• Interstate Removals Brisbane

Template:BRS+NFC group