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This page simply reformats the Flickr public Atom feed for purposes of finding inspiration through random exploration. These images are not being copied or stored in any way by this website, nor are any links to them or any metadata about them. All images are © their owners unless otherwise specified.

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The Docks of the Great Western Railway : Great Western Railway : London : 1931 : plan of Brentford Dock , Middlesex by mikeyashworth

© mikeyashworth, all rights reserved.

The Docks of the Great Western Railway : Great Western Railway : London : 1931 : plan of Brentford Dock , Middlesex

Following the Grouping of the majority of Britain's railways in 1923, the "Big Four" all found themselves the owners and operators of most major ports, docks and harbours - along with, in the case of three of them, being significant ferry operators in their own right. The 'odd one out' with regards to the latter was the Great Western Railway.

However, the GWR did have some significant port and dock facilities, most notably in South Wales due to the export of the prized coal mined in that region, as well as much smaller facilities such as Brentford Docks in west London along with Chelsea Dock. This is the July 1931 edition of the Docks of GWR and that appears in a remarkably small format; the company also issued a "Great Western Ports Annual", a larger and more expansive format. This contains no adverts and is simply a resume of the company's shipping facilities with a section of plans and maps of the various ports and docks. The GWR's Chief Docks Manager's Department was based in the substantial building overlooking Cardiff Docks.

Given the format and the tight binding the plans, on very thin paper, are almost impossible to open without damage. I have managed a scan of this; the plan of Brentford Dock in Middlesex, west London. The Dock was a transhipment port for goods between the GWR, who ran a branch line down to the Dock, the canal and the River Thames as well as serving local industry in this part of Middlesex. Passing to the British Transport Commission/British Railways in 1948 the Docks were a working port until 1964 and in later years ownership passed to the Greater London Council under whose stewardship it became a Marina along with redevelopment for housing.

The Docks of the Great Western Railway : Great Western Railway : London : 1931 : cover by mikeyashworth

© mikeyashworth, all rights reserved.

The Docks of the Great Western Railway : Great Western Railway : London : 1931 : cover

Following the Grouping of the majority of Britain's railways in 1923, the "Big Four" all found themselves the owners and operators of most major ports, docks and harbours - along with, in the case of three of them, being significant ferry operators in their own right. The 'odd one out' with regards to the latter was the Great Western Railway.

However, the GWR did have some significant port and dock facilities, most notably in South Wales due to the export of the prized coal mined in that region, as well as much smaller facilities such as Brentford Docks in west London along with Chelsea Dock. This is the July 1931 edition of the Docks of GWR and that appears in a remarkably small format; the company also issued a "Great Western Ports Annual", a larger and more expansive format. This contains no adverts and is simply a resume of the company's shipping facilities with a section of plans and maps of the various ports and docks. The GWR's Chief Docks Manager's Department was based in the substantial building overlooking Cardiff Docks.

Given the format and the tight binding the plans, on very thin paper, are almost impossible to open without damage.

The Docks of the Great Western Railway : Great Western Railway : London : 1931 : title page by mikeyashworth

© mikeyashworth, all rights reserved.

The Docks of the Great Western Railway : Great Western Railway : London : 1931 : title page

Following the Grouping of the majority of Britain's railways in 1923, the "Big Four" all found themselves the owners and operators of most major ports, docks and harbours - along with, in the case of three of them, being significant ferry operators in their own right. The 'odd one out' with regards to the latter was the Great Western Railway.

However, the GWR did have some significant port and dock facilities, most notably in South Wales due to the export of the prized coal mined in that region, as well as much smaller facilities such as Brentford Docks in west London along with Chelsea Dock. This is the July 1931 edition of the Docks of GWR and that appears in a remarkably small format; the company also issued a "Great Western Ports Annual", a larger and more expansive format. This contains no adverts and is simply a resume of the company's shipping facilities with a section of plans and maps of the various ports and docks. The GWR's Chief Docks Manager's Department was based in the substantial building overlooking Cardiff Docks as seen in this photograph. This, constructed in 1897 as the headquarters of the Cardiff Railway was designed by William Frame (1848-1906). The "Pierhead Building" has survived many tribulations and survives as part of the estate of the Welsh Government. The title page lists the various senior management of the Docks department.

Given the format and the tight binding the plans, on very thin paper, are almost impossible to open without damage.

Great Western Docks 1939 : Britain's western gateways : H. N. Appleby Ltd. : by arrangement with the Great Western Railway : 1939 by mikeyashworth

© mikeyashworth, all rights reserved.

Great Western Docks 1939 : Britain's western gateways : H. N. Appleby Ltd. : by arrangement with the Great Western Railway : 1939

Following the Grouping of the majority of Britain's railways in 1923, the "Big Four" all found themselves the owners and operators of most major ports, docks and harbours - along with, in the case of three of them, being significant ferry operators in their own right. The 'odd one out' with regards to the latter was the Great Western Railway.

However, as did the other railway concerns, the GWR did allow to be published a very fine annual directory of their port facilities and that for 1939 was published on their behalf by H. N. Appleby who also edited the LNER's Port volumes. The 1939 edition is a massive book running to over three hundred pages that describe the docks, the handling facilities, infrastructure and the industries of the various hinterlands. They range from major docks, such as Cardiff, where the GWR's Chief Docks Manager's Department was based, to much smaller affairs such as Brentford Dock in west London. As well as text, and adverts for associated industries and service suppliers, the volume has many highly detailed plans of the ports, the docks and their facilities. One suspects the 1939 edition was very useful for the Luftwaffe over the coming years of war.

This is the cover of the book with a suitably limpid illustration of the Cardiff headquarters and the GWR symbol by an unattributed artist or designer.