Returning to Grantham

[61070]

Going back to July when Ian (workev) asked about sources of locomotive coal, Ken Willetts has kindly responded to a note I sent him at Christmas. He remembers that locomotive coal arrived at Grantham from Yorkshire collieries including Harworth, Rossington, Maltby, Brodsworth and Denaby.

Thanks for your research again John,re.coal at Grantham.I now recall Ken mentioning Maltby Main,I believe,and that we at Grantham only had high grade stuff.
Kind regards,Roy.

Good to hear from you in 2012 Roy; glad to have you at the top of the 50th page too. Happy New Year!

[61070]

Hi, new member here. I have been following this thread for a few months and decided it was about time I joined in.
Born and bred in Grantham area, spotter from the mid sixties, now living in Sheringham.

A warm welcome Mike - you are in very good company here so far as Grantham residents - and 'ex-pats' - are concerned (eg Roy above for one). Me, I'm an outsider from Leicester - we were just visitors, there to pass the time, watch and photograph the trains, and soak up the atmosphere.

Sheringham! Brings back many happy memories of summer holidays in the late 50s and early 60s. We travelled by train via Peterborough - the M&GN had just closed the first year we went. We'd been to Mundesley previously. I made a nostalgic return trip in 2010 with my sister for the opening of the new crossing. If you go to this page on the forum viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2788&p=20633&hilit ... ham#p20633 and scroll down you'll find a photo of the two of us from way back. Have to finish there - veering well off topic!

Look forward to your next post.

[strang steel]

Folks,

Onto a subject that maybe I will get some interest going.

I am looking at what freight was actually processed at Grantham. I know that Aveling Barford sent out finished product; but I assume also that they received materials both by road and train, Was this delivered on flats (Steel, etc) and Vans?

I have seen several Cattle trucks which I assume were regular traffic; if so were these on the pick-up freight services that went to or through Grantham?


Ian

In my 1957 Lincoln area WTT, there is a class F goods from Lincoln Holmes Yard to Kings Cross East Goods (New England on Saturdays), which calls at Honington for 30 minutes, so I presume it must pick up wagons from the surrounding area, then reaches Grantham just after midnight. The return working leaves Grantham at 5.05 a.m.

Having inspected a number of photographs with sidings in the background, in addition to the cattle wagons, there also seems to be a fair number of insulated containers and 12t ventilated vans. I wonder if live meat came into the goods yard and carcasses went out for larger towns and cities?

I'm afraid that I dont have the relevant WTTs for the Nottingham and local ECML goods trains, but I would imagine that a similar service would exist for those as well. Maybe they connected into/from the train that I mentioned above?

[Barrowby]

Thanks for the welcome 61070. I have only lived here for 18 months so the M&GN is well before my time although holidays with my own kids goes back thirty years.
The NNR is relaying the track between the platforms at the moment and I for one cant wait to see the B12 back where it belongs.
I liked your pic, you dont realise what has been removed until you see the evidence.
Mike

Hi, new member here. I have been following this thread for a few months and decided it was about time I joined in.
Born and bred in Grantham area, spotter from the mid sixties, now living in Sheringham.

A warm welcome Mike - you are in very good company here so far as Grantham residents - and 'ex-pats' - are concerned (eg Roy above for one). Me, I'm an outsider from Leicester - we were just visitors, there to pass the time, watch and photograph the trains, and soak up the atmosphere.

Sheringham! Brings back many happy memories of summer holidays in the late 50s and early 60s. We travelled by train via Peterborough - the M&GN had just closed the first year we went. We'd been to Mundesley previously. I made a nostalgic return trip in 2010 with my sister for the opening of the new crossing. If you go to this page on the forum viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2788&p=20633&hilit ... ham#p20633 and scroll down you'll find a photo of the two of us from way back. Have to finish there - veering well off topic!

Look forward to your next post.

[Barrowby]

Regarding cattle trucks, there were quite a lot of butchers in the town and i worked in the trade at the same premises from leaving school in 68 until 2002 with a fine view of the viaduct through the shop window. my old boss used to tell the tale of cattle and sheep bought at Sleaford cattle market on Mondays being brought by rail to the cattle sidings and being walked down Station Rd. to the town centre to the shop for slaughter. As most butchers killed their own I doubt if carcase meat was sent out from Grantham. I dont know how frequently this occured as Grantham had its own thriving cattle market on Thursday, which was next to the railway lines north of the station. Chilled carcase meat probably came to Grantham as the 'River Plate Meat Co.' (Eastmans/ Dewhurst) had branches in town but it could have been by road transport, not sure.

Mike

Folks,

Onto a subject that maybe I will get some interest going.

I am looking at what freight was actually processed at Grantham. I know that Aveling Barford sent out finished product; but I assume also that they received materials both by road and train, Was this delivered on flats (Steel, etc) and Vans?

I have seen several Cattle trucks which I assume were regular traffic; if so were these on the pick-up freight services that went to or through Grantham?


Ian

In my 1957 Lincoln area WTT, there is a class F goods from Lincoln Holmes Yard to Kings Cross East Goods (New England on Saturdays), which calls at Honington for 30 minutes, so I presume it must pick up wagons from the surrounding area, then reaches Grantham just after midnight. The return working leaves Grantham at 5.05 a.m.

Having inspected a number of photographs with sidings in the background, in addition to the cattle wagons, there also seems to be a fair number of insulated containers and 12t ventilated vans. I wonder if live meat came into the goods yard and carcasses went out for larger towns and cities?

I'm afraid that I dont have the relevant WTTs for the Nottingham and local ECML goods trains, but I would imagine that a similar service would exist for those as well. Maybe they connected into/from the train that I mentioned above?

[workev]

I will look at my WTTS over the next few days.

I would be interested to hear Roy’s recollections as to what shunting of goods wagons took place in preparation of and reception of freight trains. I am sure there were only a handful of pick-up goods trains; so the day would have been spent shunting wagons between sidings and goods facilities, ready for the trains during the night.

I have seen pictures of insulated vans, box vans and cattle wagons; so general freight must have been extensive. From earlier posts I guess there were also the mills that received grain, etc. Was grain delivered in box vans or specialist wagons at that time?

Were there any coal merchants in Grantham that received coal by rail?

Keep the thoughts coming....
Ian

[strang steel]

Ellis & Everard's were one of the big coal merchants in the region, so I would be surprised if they didn't have a depot in Grantham.

Grain tended to be carried in large hopper wagons such as this one

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brgrai ... a#hc56a43a

although later in the 1960s, brewing grain was carried in company wagons with large logos on the side. I cant find a decent photo of the early versions, but I am sure they are out there somewhere.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Ellis and Everard were all over the country with fingers in all sorts of pies. They were a big manufacturer of dyestuffs in Yorkshire.

[61070]

I am looking at what freight was actually processed at Grantham. I know that Aveling Barford sent out finished product; but I assume also that they received materials both by road and train, Was this delivered on flats (Steel, etc) and Vans?
I have seen several Cattle trucks which I assume were regular traffic; if so were these on the pick-up freight services that went to or through Grantham?
What other foodstuffs or agricultural goods were processed through Grantham?
I hope to reflect the general freight as well as the through services of coal, iron ore, etc.
Finally, has anybody got any idea of the haulage companies other than BRS that serviced Grantham Station?

Re. cattle and Aveling Barford’s, I expect you’ll remember the previous mention of both on page 39 (posted May 4th).

Goods Traffic
This might help jog some memories. One of my retired driver friends in Grantham happens to have started out on the LNER as a goods office messenger boy. On gaining promotion to head messenger boy his job (c.1943-45) was ‘to cycle round the town delivering letters, bills and invoices.’

In an account of his career he writes: ‘The places I called at were:

Aveling and Barford's offices and to the railway loading foreman, A. Chappell, in the factory;
Ruston and Hornsby offices London Road and to the railway loading foreman, B. Maycroft, in the factory on Spitalgate Hill;
R.H. Neals, Dysart Road;
Grantham Boiler and Crank Works, Dysart Road;
British Marco in Springfield Road;
Lee and Grinlings (corn merchants), Commercial Road;
W. Swallow, Wharf Road;
Hunter and Moye, Dysart Road;
J. Pidcocks (Maltings), Welham Street;
Henry Bell, Old Wharf Road;
J. Harris Haulage, Harlaxton Road;
Parson and Snape Coal Merchants, Westgate;
H. Burton, Eaton Street;
J. Storey, Union Street;
Mowbray’s Brewery, Commercial Road;
H Dales Mineral Waters, Bridge End Road;
Mellotte Farming Implements, Wharf Road;
Harrison’s Baby Carriage makers, Wharf Road;
Harrison’s Basket makers, Watergate.’

Another thought - have you seen the BR Handbook of Stations, which lists all points where traffic may originate or be consigned to, including private/works sidings?

Buildings. Plans of the buildings are very few and far between, indeed that also extends to any of the structures at the shed as well.

Have you been able to locate 1:1250 scale OS maps? Short of actual building plans they are probably the best record you’ll get of the plan layout and disposition of buildings. They are also usually quite accurate on track layout too. I don’t think they have them at Grantham Library – more likely to be at Lincoln, either the Lincoln Central Library or the Lincolnshire Records Office.
Smaller scale OS maps (1:2500 as available on the oldmaps website) show works internal systems (external to buildings) and private sidings, as I’m sure you’ll know. In fact sorry if this is stating the obvious.

[workev]

Wow, thats a great start for companies in Grantham. Tried looking for a BR Handbook for stations and they are rare, will have to keep looking!

Will see what I can dig up with these companies.

Thanks John.

[ROY@34F]

In reply to Ian(workev).I'm afraid I can't really add anything to what others are saying,especially 61070 and Strangsteel,who are such a mine of information.The list John(61070) has posted brings back memories of businesses in the town in those days,indeed any town in those days,before road traffic was so developed as it is today.It just shows how busy goods yards were.Barfords,Rustons,Marco s,etc.produced a lot of engineerijng goods,plus inward materials;agricultural stuff:potatoes,corn,sugarbeet ,cattle,were all handled extensively by rail.As"Barrowby"says,I don't think there would be much meat in the yards.
Sorry,can't remember in detail what was what.but it was quite busy of course.Good luck with your research Ian.
Regards,Roy.

[strang steel]

I was going to suggest sugar beet but after trying to kick my alcohol dimmed grey matter into action, I can't remember seeing trains of sugar beet passing Grantham.

I have seen them on nearby lines, and there was a processing factory in Peterborough but I wonder if they mostly went via the Joint line in order to keep them away from the two track section on the ECML.

Of course, it may have been that I was just never there at the right time of year.

[CLOXTON]

Hi workev,

I have been involved in building Grantham station goods yard and part of the loco shed
between 1948 to 57 if you send me your address or you live local to grantham i can show you the photos, track plans

regards cloxton

[workev]

Cloxton,

I've sent a PM to you.

Ian

[ROY@34F]

I was going to suggest sugar beet but after trying to kick my alcohol dimmed grey matter into action, I can't remember seeing trains of sugar beet passing Grantham.

I have seen them on nearby lines, and there was a processing factory in Peterborough but I wonder if they mostly went via the Joint line in order to keep them away from the two track section on the ECML.

Of course, it may have been that I was just never there at the right time of year.

Sorry John,you may well be right.It's just that I was trying to think of possible goods in Grantham yards.I thought local farmers may bring sugar beet to be transported to a sugar factory .I had Bardney in mind;did'nt know there was one near Peterboro'.Maybe it was'nt grown much around Grantham.I remember sugar beet being grown and a common sight
being taken up,being born near Langrick in the fens of Lincolnshire,not far from you I believe!
Regards,Roy.