The LNER Encyclopedia

again i pose a question about stations. does anyone know how common car parks were outside of stations in the 1930's, and how they were set out (pararell, perpendicular, on gravel, cobbelstone)? i have looked through tons of books, but can't seem to find anything about them, so im pretty confused

Cheers

Kyle

In the 1930s very few people had cars and those that did often had chauffeurs and so the car was not left standing at the station unattended.
Taxis were often based near or at stations as they are still. Also there were more stations and so people often walked or cycled to the nearest one if a local bus was not provided. So there were few station car parks in the 1930s.

In the late 40s and early fifties when car ownership increased, car parks were often provided at larger stations. It is useful to note that most cars were black at that time. Backtrack and other magazines of that genre often publish photographs of station frontages and these are worth examining.

In the age of coal and steam, many car parks and other yards were surfaced with cinders from the locomotive depot, power station or any works boiler house. This waste product was in abundant supply and had the benefit of sterilising the ground being highly acidic and full of toxic substances. As a child, I recall that the lane to our farm was about half a mile long and surfaced with cinders. They were delivered by a tipper lorry and the driver would leave little piles all the way down the lane. We then had to go out with barrows and shovels and distribute them into the pot holes.

Colombo

thanx colombo, that clears things up for me. now i wont have to worry about messing about trying to organise a big car park for my stations (maybe just a small space for a few taxis and a bus).

thanx again

Kyle