Skeldons

STOCK MODELS FOR SKELDONS!

DAF XF 510 Super Space Euro 6 (6×2, tag axle) tractor unit with 3 axle, cattle float trailer, customised in the classy livery of Scottish operator Skeldons Transport.

Commissioned to celebrate the winning of the Transport News Scottish Fleet of the Year 2015 award, the models have been produced exclusively for Search Impex by WSI Collectibles as a certificated Limited Edition (155 pieces).

Skeldons Transport is based in the Scottish Borders village of Greenlaw in the foothills of the Lammermuir Hills on the Blackadder Water between Duns and Coldstream in Berwickshire. The business was established in 1984, following the decision of owner driver, Alexander Skeldon, to take over local haulier Taylor of Gordon who, in preparation for retirement, had reduced his haulage operation to just one truck.

Already well versed in the haulage industry (having already worked for a number of other well known Scottish hauliers), Alexander set about rebuilding the business and continued to trade under the name Taylor of Gordon. The decision to rename the business Skeldons Transport (a move which came in 1989) was taken only once a steady and reliable customer base had been developed. Much of the early work came from the local agricultural industry and flexibility was the key. An investment in three rigid flatbed trucks and various different types of demountable bodies enabled the haulier to offer its customers a range of transport services, moving anything from straw, feeds and fertilizer, through to potatoes and livestock (the latter being the mainstay of the business at that time). The first articulated truck (a DAF 95) and trailer (a curtainside) joined the fleet in 1996. This enabled a greater expansion into general haulage work – a move that paid dividends when the disastrous outbreak of Foot and Mouth struck in 2001 and livestock work stopped almost overnight.

Nowadays, livestock movement remains a very important part of the business (accounting for slightly less than half the workload), with general haulage making up the balance. The Company runs a total of five trucks (three artics and two rigids) and a mix of trailers (cattle floats, flats & curtains). All the trucks are beautifully liveried in Skeldons’ classy two tone blue, red & gold livery and each has an individual Caledonian related name – in this case “Caledonian Highlander”

Models, available from Search Impex, are priced at £142 each (including UK delivery & VAT).

For details of availability of this and other models, collectors can visit the Search Impex website at www.search-impex.co.uk or call on 01332 873555.