GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Hockley Station: gwrhd725a

Close up of image 'gwrhd725' showing the range and volume of wagons being handled by Hockley and other GWR goods yards. Frank Popplewell describes in his series of article in the Great Western Railway Journal the types of traffic originating at the yard and charges made by the GWR. Whilst most local traders paid according to a complex set of charges dependent on such things as product, place of delivery and weight a few large customers enjoyed special treatment. HP Sauce of Aston paid a fixed charge irrespective of destination and weight, whilst FW Woolworths had an exceptional rate being based on a percentage of their profits. The GPO stores in Fordrough Lane, Birmingham and other suppliers to government departments paid a fixed rate for delivery too. Companies such as GKN followed a deliberate policy of balancing the business between the two railway companies in the city, the GWR and LMS. They did it by the simple procedure of delivering their goods to each company on alternate weeks.

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