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How the CDA fleet came about
REGARDING the farewell to china clay CDA wagons in the September issue, their introduction can be traced back to BR Railfreight’s reorganisation to introduce sector management in October 1982. National business managers took over the previously shared responsibilities of headquarters’ freight marketing managers and regional freight managers, but these roles were retained to negotiate resource allocations with regional general managers.
After holding responsibility for Speedlink network marketing, I was appointed as one of the new national business managers for the chemicals and industrial minerals sectors. The remit covered all aspects of commercial activity, and part of the role was to act as the account manager for the largest customers – such as ICI, BP and English China Clay.
At the time, china clay traffic to the Potteries for industrial use had been concentrated at a grant-funded distribution terminal at Cliff
