The conveyance of tobacco

[BlackFivesMatter]

Whilst researching a YouTube of the late John Smith's Caledonian loft layout, he makes reference to a "Caley tobacco van". 

Many places had tobacco factories "once upon a less enlightened time".  Did tobacco have special vans for it, or would any ventilated van be used? 

[Fat Controller]

When the 'Air-Braked Network' was starting, in the mid-1970s, one of the core traffics was tobacco from Will's factory to Glasgow. Ordinary BR air-braked vans were used; the one concession to the nature of the traffic was the presence of 'Crown Locks', as the load was under Bond.

A generation earlier, and there had been a regular flow from Player's at Nottingham to Neyland (why Neyland?); the vehicles used were Siphon Gs.

[Compound2632]

17 hours ago, Fat Controller said:

A generation earlier, and there had been a regular flow from Player's at Nottingham to Neyland (why Neyland?); the vehicles used were Siphon Gs.

 

Some time ago, there was discussion of a inter-war period photo of Nottingham Victoria from @Rail-Online's collection that included an ex-Great Central van fitted up for tobacco traffic. 

[The Stationmaster]

In railway parlance 'tobacco' normally meant finished products (as indicated by the posts above)...  Although presumably leaf tobacco might well have have been conveyed by rail to some of the factories especially those remote from docks.

[Dave John]

There were three Caledonian D 39 6 wheel NPC Vans allocated to Stephen Mitchell ( No. 200-202) and one to F&J Smith for the carriage of tobacco. They carried the users name in large letters. Not sure , but I think they might have been thirled.

 

There was considerable Tobacco traffic from Glasgow, usually in npcs.

 

See "Caledonian Railway Wagons" by Mike Williams for further details. 

[KeithMacdonald]

Wills had a factory in Swindon that also had a rail connection.

 

This Alamy pic shows a curious 0-4-0 industrial loco with the "W D & H O Wills" name on it.

https://www.alamy.com/w-d-h-o-wills-cigarette-factory-swindon-wiltshire-image256556355.html

 

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