Hornby Train set: IndustrialFreight

The Railways Act of 1921 grouped the majority of the railway companies in the United Kingdom into four major companies, often referred to as the ‘Big Four’ and this legislation came into place on 1 January 1923. A number of railway companies though were not included in ‘Grouping’, particularly standard gauge Light Railways, Joint Railways and some industrial, dock and military railways and many of these lines had direct links to the mainline. While many lines had their own freight rolling stock, or made use of private owner wagons, it was not unusual to see rolling stock from one of the ‘Big Four’ companies being used, as freight was delivered in from industrial areas further afield.