Memories of Dumbo the rescue truck

Nov 27 2009 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

DUMBO the breakdown truck is definitely an Ayrshire legend.

And the article we carried a couple of weeks back sparked memories aplenty.

Among them are those of James Davidson, a past president of Mauchline Burns Club.

James’ dad was police officer with Ayrshire Constabulary for 30 years, starting in 1947.

And James himself was in the county force between 1972 and 1975.

He recalls: “I saw Dumbo and the regular driver at the scene of many accidents.

“Dumbo could remove large commercial vehicles and buses which were too heavy for local garages to tackle.

“But Dumbo wasn’t built for speed, so there was often a long wait until its arrival.

“The regular driver always wore a long army grey coat tied round the waist and a beret.

“He was skilled in the art of recovery involving snatch blocks, thereby doubling or trebling the winch pulling capabilities of Dumbo.”

James added: “In the days before fast food the driver would often buy pies before leaving Troon, wrap them in tin foil and wire them to the top of the outlet manifold of Dumbo's massive engine.

“On arriving at the job the pies were done to perfection and most welcome after a long cold stand.”

James said he never saw the giant Mack truck beat in any recover operation.

He recalls: “At one road accident, I witnessed the awesome power of Dumbo when it almost chopped a GPO telephone truck in two with the pull of its winch.

“The GPO lorry was on its side in a field. The ‘educated’ officials from the Post Office slung the wire around the body, and protected the upper body with timber planks.

“Dumbo's driver warned the pull on the winch would snap all the planks then cut the body in two.

“The college graduates claimed to have studied the recovery and this was the best option.

“When Dumbo was finished they had a mountain of firewood to take back with them.The driver then righted the vehicle and recovered same without further interference.”

Another man who well remembers the big Dodds of Troon recovery truck is retired garage owner Ian Wellington of Ayr.

Ian worked in the commercial vehicle business, and regularly came into contact with Dumbo.

He remembers: “The driver was Jock Kerr, and in his time off he like going to the pictures in Troon.

“But often a message would go up on the screen that his services were required.

“I can recall when Dumbo rescued two heavy vehicles stuck in a farm lane.

“There was a bulk feeder and an Albion lorry that tried to rescue it.

“Dumbo pulled them both out together.”

Reader Bill Murray, a joiner from Dreghorn, snapped this picture of Dumbo.

The great old truck is currently in retirement in a large bus garage near Beith, but is still owned by Dodds of Troon.