LMS Route: Nuneaton to Leamington

Kenilworth Station: lnwrk151a

Close up of image 'lnwrk151' showing an unidentified former Midland locomotive on an up goods service standing in the departure siding of Kenilworth's goods yard. The ex-Midland locomotive is thought to have been working a pick up goods service between Nuneaton and Leamington which required it to stop at all goods yards along the route. The railways were required to be common carriers which meant that the cost of transporting most goods was established through legislation as was the necessity for the railways to accept any goods for delivery. This was a device devised in the 19th century to ensure that railways provided the level of service promised when railways were established by Acts of Parliament. However with the rise of road transport in the mid-20th century this law put the railways at a major disadvantage insofar that road hauliers could cherry pick the most profitable loads and leave the rest to the railways to service.

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