Tony Brewis gave us a wonderful insight:
>Most domestic purchases of coal were made at the small local offices,
>usually
>near railway sidings where the coal was brought by rail for bagging and
>delivery by horse and cart. The story goes that the three companies
>maintained three separate offices at many such sites. Then, if a housewife
>was disgruntled with the coal delivered by Tyne Main, she might cancel
>her order, and go next door, placing her trade with Brewis Brothers, for
>example. Whichever she chose, the profits ended up at No 2 Pancras Road,
>so everyone was happy.
>
Many of the addresses given were close to small local coal yards, many of
them Midland Railway owned (like the one by the Walworth Road - access from
St Pancras via Farringdon and Blackfriars. Other MR depots were on or close
to Wandsworth Road and Fulham Road - actually Lillie Road). The original
depot at York Road must have been on the Great Northern.
That Tyne Main were merchants would explain why the wagons were usually
only seen in ones or twos. Presumably coal was brought in from a wide range
of collieries - Lancashire, Derby/Notts, Yorkshire?
Did Brewis Bros and/or Carrick Davies have their railway wagon fleet?
Many thanks for the history.
Richard Kelham
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