Road Transport - Great Britain: Books - Vehicles and History (3/4)

Great Western Railway Road Vehicles (2)

On the GWR, standardisation was seen as the key to success, and all departments of the company were subjected to the policy in a drive to return the railways to overall profitability. Nowhere was this policy more keenly seen than in the Road Motor Department, with its head office at Paddington and workshops in Slough.
By the early-1920s, the GWR had foreseen that the railways were facing a terrible threat from the private road-hauliers, so they snapped into action to try and beat the interlopers at their own game. In his second book on the subject, Alan Earnshaw continues the pictorial examination of the fleet with hitherto unpublished pictures supplemented by a fleet list of the vehicles concerned.

Brain Haulage Ltd : A Company History 1950-1992

Brain Haulage was formed by Charles Edward Brain in 1950 and played a major role in the container revolution in the UK, completely changing the way goods were transported over the world.
Peter Sumpter was a driver with Brain Haulage until it closed in 1992 and is an unofficial archivist of the brand, having taken hundreds of photographs and chronicling his adventures in a diary for over 20 years.

"Brain Haulage Ltd" tells the history of Brain and the container revolution as well as the story of Charles Brain; from his early years working for the L.M.S. Railway at Camden Town, to his time in the R.A.F. during the second world war, to eventually starting his own haulage company.
The rest of the story is from Peter's own diary and the many ex-drivers and Brains staff he worked with over the years.
Including over 300 previously unpublished photographs "Brain Haulage Ltd" is a unique book, ideal for anyone interested in containers and their revolution, as well as road transport and haulage trade enthusiasts.

British Railway Road Vehicles 1948-1968

Following the nationalisation of Britain's railway network on 1st January 1948, one of the major areas of competition facing the Railway Executive was the fast growing number of privately owned road haulage vehicles.
As part of the first post-war Labour government's strategy for an integrated national transport system, British Railways were strongly encouraged to expand the road delivery services operated by its constituent companies, the LMS, GWR, LNER and the Southern Railway.

British Railway's road delivery fleet is perhaps best remembered by the three-wheel Scammell 'mechanical horses", but the railway motor vehicle fleet was both diverse and extensive.
The authors examine the varied vehicle types and their operations including wagon-load traffic and Express Parcels Services.

Co-operative Transport

With its roots in the 1840s, the Co-operative Movement grew to become a major retailing force before the Second World War. A 1950s slump in retail sales led to re-organisation and entrenchment until the Society was recently revisited to face the rigours of the new millennium.
Initially importing competitively priced quality foods from abroad including Irish butter, Danish bacon, Indian tea and American wheat, the Wholesale Society foresaw the need to become manufacturers of many basic products which were demanded by the working classes including boots and shoes, clothing for work and leisure, soap and furniture along with foods such as biscuits, pickles and jams.

Distribution was the key to success and as railway companies, along with their associated road based delivery vehicles were the major carriers of goods across the country at the end of the nineteenth century, full use was made of these connections by despatching goods direct to the customer. Indeed, by 1919 a census showed that 550 societies were operating 6,000 horse drawn vehicles, 316 motor cars and 689 motor lorries.
To deliver the goods the Co-operative operated around 35,000 vehicles varying over the years from horse drawn vans to full size articulated lorries, even building its own lorry chassis and bodies.

From funeral services, milk tankers and milk floats, coal and coke deliveries, and mobile shops this book tells the story of the wide variety of vehicles which make up Co-operative transport. It details the history of the transport operation, from their horse drawn van beginnings to full size articulated lorries. Also included are descriptions of the Co-operative's own chassis and body building workshops.

LMS Railway Road Vehicles

Chronicling the development of the LMS road vehicle fleet, this book covers a fascinating variety of vehicle types and operations. Using a large selection of official company photographs and recalling the personal experiences of staff involved in the operation, it is a truly unique account.

The London Brick Company (Famous Fleets)

Famous for its 'Fletton Brick', London Brick distributed throughout the country using its well kept fleet of AEC lorries. In addition to describing the transport operation, the book takes a look at brick making and the company's eventual diversification into refuse disposal and landfill.