GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Hockley Station: gwrhd677a

Close up showing 'Top' shed's No 10 platform with road vehicles in evidence behind the contractor's scaffolding. The opening of 'Top' shed brought together both inward and outward traffic under one roof. The shed could accommodate up to 250 wagons across all platforms which would arrive or depart for different trains throughout the day with the shed being cleared at least once every eight hour shift. Wagons received at Hockley from 'calling trains' were berthed in the reception roads, where the operating department's yard inspector would proceed to walk down the train checking the labels pinned to each wagon (there was one on each side of the wagon). The labels showed: the sending and destination stations; and if a full load the name of the consignee. All general merchandising labels were overprinted with a large '3', a code denoting the load for train working purposes, and using a thick black lead pencil, the inspector would mark on it where within Hockley it should be shunted.

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