Early 1960s Mineral Flows in the Thames Valley

[Tallpaul70]

Hi All,

Around 1960-62, apart from coal, and its associated products plus the empties therefrom, what mineral flows were there along the GW main line between Acton and Reading or along the Wycombe branch, destined for or originating from beyond the Thames Valley area,
a) in block formations?
b) as a section comprising c1-6 wagons of a mixed freightwagons?

Also in the same area and timescale, what were fitted bauxite 16T minerals used for as against unfitted grey 16T minerals?

Many thanks
Paul

[LC&DR]

Undoubtedly there would be considerable traffic in stone and other aggregates from the Mendips into the London Area which would pass in hopper wagons and mineral wagons and sometimes tipplers too. Block trains were becoming much more common in the 1960s, as too were trains made up from fitted wagons. London had an insatiable appetite for aggregate for concrete. Although not 'mineral' traffic per-se Westbury had a huge cement works and cement in Presflos would also be a significant traffic, much coming in to the London area. In more recent times the aggregate traffic remained hugely important but was transferred into privately owned air braked hopper wagons.

Local builders merchants were often located in local station sidings and so they would receive sand and aggregate usually in open wagons (Steel highs and wooden 5 plank highs) which would be unloaded by hand using shovels and wheelbarrows. These would pass as part of a local station to station trip mixed in with other goods wagons including coal.

Fitted 16t minerals tended to be reserved for special flows of traffic because of their scarcity. The unfitted grey ones were far and away the most common. That said discipline was none too firm and occasionally one would appear.

A good tip is to seek out the local Middleton Press albums for the stations you are interested in, they often discuss local traffic, and have photographs of trains, stations and goods yards. You can get a lot of clues from these. There are a number of useful titles including - Paddington to Ealing, Ealing to Slough, and Slough to Newbury, which cover the area you are interested in. Each cost £18-95 which I consider excellent value. https://www.middletonpress.co.uk/books/ ... ain-lines/

[Tallpaul70]

Thanks LC&DR,
I should have said that I have a wide range of books and magazines on the area including all the Middleton Press books, which I agree with you are an excellent source of information, but not the detail I am looking for!

Cheers
Paul

[LC&DR]

If you are wanting greater detail then you will need to go into deeper research for example examining working timetables, freight train loads books and similar official publications, some of which can be seen in the NRM Search Engine. You may also need to investigate what records are held in the public Records Office/ National Archives at Kew. The Historical Railway Society and Railway Correspondence and Travel Society also have quite extensive libraries of such publications. Then there is the Great Western Society at Didcot. The RCH Handbook of Stations 1956 plus the 1962 Handbook Appendix will give you some information concerning private sidings.

I have carried out similar detailed research for my own area of interest which is North Kent, but my knowledge of the Thames Valley on the other side of London is rudimentary.

[Tony House]

Hi
I don't think there would be much of a bulk freight movement apart fro coal from Wales through the Thames Valley due the the large natural stocks of aggregate sand etc going by the number of worked out gravel pits around the East Berkshire area, Langley / Iver area there were a number of Brick works which supplied London and surrounding areas. Much would be carried on the roads rather than rail The rail traffic off the Slough Trading estate would be high but only one or two wagons per firm per day.