GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Hockley Station: gwrhd696

View showing Hockley's rebuilt main office block and balcony prior to the closure of the yard in 1967. The canteen was located on the upper floor. On the ground floor to the right is the modern single storey building accommodating the Accounts and Cartage offices. On the left is a partial view of the Road Motor Engineer's facilities. By this date Karrier Bantam Tractor Units were well evident at Hockley. The Karrier Bantam was introduced in the mid 1930s as a lorry for loads of up to 2 tons. Its small wheels gave it a low loading height. Initially fitted with a 9hp engine, it was soon to get an 18hp unit from the contemporary Rootes Humber car range. In 1950 the cab design was changed and the Bantam was offered with a Perkins diesel engine. In articulated tractor form the Karrier was very popular with British Railways and other parcels carriers and continued in production until 1970 when it was fitted with the Leyland OE160 engine, similar to that powering the Scammell Townsman and Ferguson tractors. It is fitted with Karrier's own 3 ton coupling gear that was fully compatible with the Scammell version.

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