Old school trucks: FW McDowall pt 2
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From humble beginnings in the small Southland town of Browns back in the early ’50s, F W McDowall grew to become a nationwide freight provider.
The general freight division of McDowalls was essentially run parallel to the rural operation although there were many synergies throughout the decades. For instance the purchase of Mount Cook Line in the ’90s substantially increased its general freight linehaul network as well as a large expansion into the Canterbury region for the rural division. Linehaul freight trucks were also often semi-retired into the lower mileage rural/short-haul applications.
Second-hand imported trucks from England and Scotland also found their way into the general freight division, and these were predominantly Fodens and ERFs. Some of these units ran interesting wheelbases, configurations and power plants. Gardner engines and Chinese six (twin-steer single drive) trucks were certainly not commonplace in New Zealand.
Western Star and Kenworth trucks dominated the frontline freight trucks on the main trunk line routes and remained so until mid-2014 when McDowalls was acquired by Mainstream. The two-tone green livery of F W McDowall Ltd is no longer seen throughout the country, with only the rural division maintaining a small presence in Southland.
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