NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 8
Moving the Goods in the 1930s
Michael L. Roach
The Rail and Canal Traffic Act of 1854 obliged the railways (and canals at the time) to carry any and all of the goods offered to them, with a few exceptions. This was a complicated law with unforeseen consequences, especially when government control of the rates the railways could charge was introduced. Looking through a newly acquired batch of 1937 GWR Magazines a couple of items attracted my attention. The GWR undertook household, farm and factory removals and were prepared to quote for doing every aspect leaving the householder or factory owner to do very little. In the first photo are examples of GWR lorries carrying cattle, household furniture and items needing to be kept cold.
In the second example the GWR moved the complete contents of two factories from London to Cheltenham. The first factory was owned by Walker, Crosweller and the second by one of the firm's subsidiaries. That firm was called Spirax – a firm that still exists, now with a turnover in excess of £1.6 billion. The firm was called Spirax Sarco for many years but reverted to the simpler Spirax in 2024. One of Spirax's subsidiaries is called Watson-Marlow with a large factory in Falmouth, Cornwall. All the firms are involved in fluid management over a wide range of industries. The GWR also moved the furniture and household effects of some fifty employees of the two companies from London to Cheltenham. In total the GWR used 135 containers for the move. With the war starting two years later I expect the managers and staff were relieved to have moved out of London. The second image describes the factory move in more detail.
When I read the short piece in the third image for the first time I found it almost unbelievable. It described a pair of suitcases handed in at Dulverton Station at 10.00am on Thursday 2 September 1937 destined for Wendover near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. I tracked their journey using my GWR timetable via Taunton, Paddington and Princes Risborough. The earliest the cases could have arrived at Aylesbury Joint Station was at 6.50pm that evening and that was with some tight connections; but the article says the cases were actually delivered at Wendover at 6.30pm although the recipient may have had to collect them from Wendover Station which was not even on the Great Western. I went back to my timetable and looked at what trains would have been used if the cases left Dulverton slightly earlier. Leaving at 9.39am the cases would have reached Aylesbury Joint Station at 4.13pm which I think is much more likely, giving more time for them to be delivered to Wendover.
The two cases were sent by “Blue Arrow” which I had never heard of although I was familiar with the Red Arrow parcels service which I used, for my employer, in the nineteen sixties between Plymouth and Bristol. This was great service on the part of the Great Western Railway in 1937; but even more amazing the recipient of the suitcases then sat down and wrote a quick note to the stationmaster at Dulverton, and posted it in time to have the letter collected that evening. The letter was delivered to Dulverton Station the very next morning 3 September. There was no first or second class in those days, just the one standard service costing 1½ old pence at the time for a letter. Great service by the then state-owned Royal Mail as well.
In the second example the GWR moved the complete contents of two factories from London to Cheltenham. The first factory was owned by Walker, Crosweller and the second by one of the firm's subsidiaries. That firm was called Spirax – a firm that still exists, now with a turnover in excess of £1.6 billion. The firm was called Spirax Sarco for many years but reverted to the simpler Spirax in 2024. One of Spirax's subsidiaries is called Watson-Marlow with a large factory in Falmouth, Cornwall. All the firms are involved in fluid management over a wide range of industries. The GWR also moved the furniture and household effects of some fifty employees of the two companies from London to Cheltenham. In total the GWR used 135 containers for the move. With the war starting two years later I expect the managers and staff were relieved to have moved out of London. The second image describes the factory move in more detail.
When I read the short piece in the third image for the first time I found it almost unbelievable. It described a pair of suitcases handed in at Dulverton Station at 10.00am on Thursday 2 September 1937 destined for Wendover near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. I tracked their journey using my GWR timetable via Taunton, Paddington and Princes Risborough. The earliest the cases could have arrived at Aylesbury Joint Station was at 6.50pm that evening and that was with some tight connections; but the article says the cases were actually delivered at Wendover at 6.30pm although the recipient may have had to collect them from Wendover Station which was not even on the Great Western. I went back to my timetable and looked at what trains would have been used if the cases left Dulverton slightly earlier. Leaving at 9.39am the cases would have reached Aylesbury Joint Station at 4.13pm which I think is much more likely, giving more time for them to be delivered to Wendover.
The two cases were sent by “Blue Arrow” which I had never heard of although I was familiar with the Red Arrow parcels service which I used, for my employer, in the nineteen sixties between Plymouth and Bristol. This was great service on the part of the Great Western Railway in 1937; but even more amazing the recipient of the suitcases then sat down and wrote a quick note to the stationmaster at Dulverton, and posted it in time to have the letter collected that evening. The letter was delivered to Dulverton Station the very next morning 3 September. There was no first or second class in those days, just the one standard service costing 1½ old pence at the time for a letter. Great service by the then state-owned Royal Mail as well.
Photos of three different lorries and containers from the January 1937 Magazine. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The factory move described in the November 1937 Magazine. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
The speedy transit of two suitcases described in the October 1937 Magazine. Copyright Michael L. Roach.
Many thanks for another interesting article, Michael.
To read more of Michaels work, please click here.
To read more of Michaels work, please click here.
Visit to the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre
Roger Winnen
This should have been a visit to the Lynton & Barnstaple Steam Gala, however, as we arrived at Barnstaple a bus was seen departing from outside of the station, empty with no destination, 15 minutes before ours was scheduled to depart.
We waited for an hour but nothing showed up, and unable to contact the Bus Company by telephone, a decision was made to instead visit the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre.
We waited for an hour but nothing showed up, and unable to contact the Bus Company by telephone, a decision was made to instead visit the Bideford Railway Heritage Centre.
28.09.2024 - At the Bideford Heritage Centre we see a Mark 1 coach E4489 built at the York Carriage and Wagon Works 1956 and PMV 2142 built Lancing 1956. Copyright Roger Winnen
Looking along the platform at Bideford Station. Copyright Roger Winnen
The Signal Box at Bideford Copyright Roger Winnen
The Planet 0-4-0 Diesel Loco built 1957 by F Hibbert & Co together with a guards brake van built Darlington 1959 . Copyright Roger Winnen
The Planet of 1957. Copyright Roger Winnen
The Planet of 1957. Copyright Roger Winnen
The trackbed at Bideford. Copyright Roger Winnen
Looking towards Instow with the former Midland Bank buiding on the right. Copyright Roger Winnen
The continuation of the platform can be seen on the left. Copyright Roger Winnen
To the right hand side can be seen the former platform. Copyright Roger Winnen
Bideford Quay on a glorious autumn day. Copyright Roger Winnen
Bideford Quay on a glorious autumn day. Copyright Roger Winnen
A stop at Dawlish for Fish & Chips at teatime. Copyright Roger Winnen
The painters are at work on Dawlish Station. Copyright Roger Winnen
Swindon Scenes
Colin Pidgeon
67027, 67023, 66846 & 66791 on 0Z59 Westbury Up TC to Swindon Transfer. ***This years starting allocation for the RHTT trains*** 01.10.2024, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
67027, 67023, 66846 & 66791 on 0Z59 Westbury Up TC to Swindon Transfer. ***This years starting allocation for the RHTT trains*** 01.10.2024, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
66796 on 4V13 Tonbridge Yard to Avonmouth. 01.10.2024, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
66566 on 6Z22 Tytherington Quarry to Appleford. 01.10.2024, copyright Colin Pidgeon.
70817 on 6Z98 Westbury Down TC to Bradwell Sidings. Copyright Colin Pidgeon.
Many thanks, Colin - a nice colourful variety.