GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Hockley Station: gwrhd748

Great Western Railway Chain Horse helping another horse with a loaded flat trolley up the Pitsford Street slope from Hockley Goods Station in the 1930’s. At the top of the hill the ‘Chain Horse’ would be detached and returned to assist the next cart. In the background is the Hockley Inwards shed and Warehouse complete with 1930 extension (see 'gwrhd2621' to see this extension under construction from other side). A single horse was expected to pull about two tons on one of these trolleys. There was a box seat for the driver ten inches above the trolley floor level, but no mechanical brake. The canvas hood was secured to multiple arched hoops which could be repositioned to protect the load from inclement weather.

Great Western Railway Chain Horse helping another horse with a loaded flat trolley up the slope from Hockley Goods Station. At the top of the hill the Chain Horse would be detached and returned to assist the next cart. A single horse was expected to pull about two tons on one of these trolleys. There was a box seat for the driver ten inches above the trolley floor level, but no mechanical brake. The canvas hood was secured to multiple arched hoops which could be repositioned to protect the load from inclement weather.

Robert Ferris

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