GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Greaves Sidings: gwrgs2764

A complete rotary cement kiln was transferred by rail from the APCM Cement Works at Ellesmere Port to Harbury Cement Works in May 1933. This second-hand kiln, which had been manufactured by Ernest Newell was relatively new, having been installed at the Ellesmere Port site by the Red Triangle Group in 1927. At Harbury Cement works it replaced the Krupp rotary kiln, which was the oldest on the site, having been in operation since 1909 and extended in 1924. The main components of the 200 foot long rotary kiln were disassembled and transported on four boiler trolley wagons. The official telegraphic code for this type of railway wagon was ‘Crocodile’ (plus a suffix letter which indicated the loading capacity). Those used for this transfer were one Crocodile F (No 41966) and three Crocodile G boiler trolley wagons. The kiln components loaded on the boiler trolley wagons were photographed after their arrival, while in the refuge siding adjacent to the Harbury Cement Works.

Robert Ferris

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