Demolition of the Bridge Road goods depot in Stockton 1986. Photograph courtesy of Kevin McGowan 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Demolition of the Bridge Road goods depot in Stockton 1986. Photograph courtesy of Kevin McGowan
I worked at this depot for National Carriers Contract Services . I drove a Fiat then a Leyland Roadtrain on Currys the electrical dealers both units were painted white.
South Stockton Goods Depot at Bridge Road was remodelled and modernised around 1960, the first of seven new freight concentration centres opened by the North Eastern Region of British Railways. The old shed dating from around 1875 was completely turned over to inwards traffic, and a new 60,000 square foot shed was built for outwards traffic. The new shed had road access at both ends with three roadways serving four tracks with a total capacity of 63 wagons. Reinforced concrete columns supported a pre-stressed concrete roof in the new shed. 60 per cent of its roof area was glazed along with the walls above 6 foot. This maximum use of light and space aided the deployment of mechanical handling technology. Motor collection and delivery services in the Tees area connected the customer with fast freight services at the depot each day. Consignment notes were processed onto paper and then onto microfilm for quick reference. Sundries were handled in the sheds and full loads in the yard. The sundries depot loaded 100 wagons and unloaded 150 wagons daily compared with a turnover of 400-500 wagons daily at the bigger Gateshead Depot opened in 1963. South Stockton Depot required one full- time shunter for marshalling, but if needed up to four shunters worked the nearby works yards. The main express freight service from the depot was the 6-45 pm to York Dringhouses conveying up to 55 wagons for overnight transfer to London, Liverpool, Manchester, Hull and Goole, often goods to the docks for export. Some principal outward customers of the South Stockton Depot in 1960/61 were; steel from Dorman Long and the South Durham Companies; tunnel segments from Head Wrightson, steel flooring from Lionweld and Kennedys, pipes from Cochranes (Middlesbrough) and T. Allen and Sons; tubes and bolts from MacNays; wire mesh from Richard Hill; lift gear from Pickerings; slag wool from Cork Insulation (Thornaby) and Mineral Wool Products (South Bank); toys from Horton Reno; window frames from Middlesbrough Casements; dresses from Rembrandt (Stockton); sugar products and preserves from W. and M. Pumphrey (Thornaby); and confectionery from Adams of Durham. Sundries were supplied to many of the big shops of Stockton and Middlesbrough in 1961, including Binns and Newhouses. Typical inward customers were full load fish products from Birds Eye Frozen Foods of Yarmouth and Persil washing powder from Unilever of Port Sunlight. British Railways claimed to be the fourth or fifth biggest employer in the Tees area in 1960 with 7000 staff and a 15 million pounds turnover.
I used to walk past the Bridge Road depot every morning on my way to parkfield foundry.
The depot was established by the North Eastern Railway, and most of the town”s supplies would have passed through it”s gates, back in the days when virtually all freight traffic was moved by rail. It eventually became a British Railways parcel depot. In 1968 BR”s parcels business was hived off and the new organisation, called Nation Carriers Limited or NCL, began to slowy distance it from rail operation, which had all but ceased at Stockton depot from the late 70″s. NCL”s huge fleet of road vehicles retained the yellow livery inherited from BR. Sometime in the late 80″s, in preparation for rail privatisation, NCL became part of National Freight Company.
I worked here at National Carriers from 1974 to 1980, and it was a very happy place to work. Great memories.
There was a haulage firm called National Carriers working from this depot up till early 80″s..bright yellow trucks…dodges, ford D, roadtrains.
J.B.Smith and Co. Sawmillers and joinery manufacturers.
I used to live (as a kid) at Smith”s Woodyard…next to the Depot…I often played there…which had been in disrepair for many years…even in the late 70s/80s…does anyone remember the name of the owners?