Coventry Parcels Depot.

[Ken H]

This, I think, was on the up side between the station building and the Stoney Rd overbridge. I think it was built as part of the postwar reconstruction.
Any pix anywhere?
Did it have tracks into it or did it use the main platform?
And when was it demolished? There is a multi storey car park there now.
Was there a large business sending lots of parcels from cov? Mail order perhaps?

 

[Magdalia]

The Coventry parcels dock had a distinctive roof, which is usually visible in pictures of trains in platform 1, taken from the east end of platform 2.

The station reconstruction was in the early 1960s as part of the preparation for electrification, but this picture suggests that the parcels dock was constructed before then.

Coventry Station rebuilding 2. (pjs,0662)

A more general picture of the rebuilding of Coventry station, with 44829 and its van playing a less important role in the scene. The familiar shape of the current station is taking shape behind the old, still functioning, structure. The platforms are busy and old style parcels trolleys add to...

flickr.com

I have found this picture of the inside of the parcels dock, which shows 2 tracks and a large area for road vans to come in and out. The caption and comments suggest it closed in the early 1980s, which would fit in with the end of the collect and deliver (C+D) parcels service in 1981. I don't recall any catalogue shopping companies being based in Coventry and the parcels dock isn't big enough for the amount of traffic they used to generate. But Coventry was a big city and until the 1970s had thriving manufacturing industries, so probably generated a lot of parcels traffic.

Coventry 08461 and 25184 August 1982

Not often Coventry parcel's dock features. 08461 and 25184 have a quiet weekend between duties on Augut 8th 1982. All history now. 25190 was reporedly the last loco to stable here before the turn was transfered to Nuneaton on 13th June 83. the 08 going before this presumably

www.flickr.com

 

[Ken H]

The Coventry parcels dock had a distinctive roof, which is usually visible in pictures of trains in platform 1, taken from the east end of platform 2.

The station reconstruction was in the early 1960s as part of the preparation for electrification, but this picture suggests that the parcels dock was constructed before then.

Coventry Station rebuilding 2. (pjs,0662)

A more general picture of the rebuilding of Coventry station, with 44829 and its van playing a less important role in the scene. The familiar shape of the current station is taking shape behind the old, still functioning, structure. The platforms are busy and old style parcels trolleys add to...

flickr.com

I have found this picture of the inside of the parcels dock, which shows 2 tracks and a large area for road vans to come in and out. The caption and comments suggest it closed in the early 1980s, which would fit in with the end of the collect and deliver (C+D) parcels service in 1981. I don't recall any catalogue shopping companies being based in Coventry and the parcels dock isn't big enough for the amount of traffic they used to generate. But Coventry was a big city and until the 1970s had thriving manufacturing industries, so probably generated a lot of parcels traffic.

Coventry 08461 and 25184 August 1982

Not often Coventry parcel's dock features. 08461 and 25184 have a quiet weekend between duties on Augut 8th 1982. All history now. 25190 was reporedly the last loco to stable here before the turn was transfered to Nuneaton on 13th June 83. the 08 going before this presumably

www.flickr.com

Thanks.

 

[gg1]

The Coventry parcels dock had a distinctive roof, which is usually visible in pictures of trains in platform 1, taken from the east end of platform 2.

The station reconstruction was in the early 1960s as part of the preparation for electrification, but this picture suggests that the parcels dock was constructed before then.

Coventry Station rebuilding 2. (pjs,0662)

A more general picture of the rebuilding of Coventry station, with 44829 and its van playing a less important role in the scene. The familiar shape of the current station is taking shape behind the old, still functioning, structure. The platforms are busy and old style parcels trolleys add to...

flickr.com

Judging by the scaffolding I'd say the parcel dock is either in the final stages of construction or literally just completed suggesting it was part of the full rebuild of the station, it just happened to be the element which was completed first.

 

[randyrippley]

that arched steel roofline looks like it was taken from the Nissen-Petren concrete & steel houses of Yeovil - basically giant Nissen huts

Yeovil's Virtual Museum, the A-to-Z of Yeovil's History - by Bob Osborn

An A-to-Z History of Yeovil, Somerset, England - by Bob Osborn

www.yeovilhistory.info

 

[Taunton]

An article describing the rebuilding of the station in the early 1960s, which was a big prestige project, described how the parcels depot was built first, well before the station luggage lifts were completed, and as most loads still went in a passenger service one of the pioneer 0-4-0 diesel shunters, plus a van, went back and forth all day across the layout transferring parcels to and fro until the lifts were finished.

 

[SuspectUsual]

It was certainly there in 1982, and still in use but for stabling locos occasionally rather than shifting parcels. I can recall popping into the station after school and the guy on the ticket barrier who we knew said “have a look in the parcels shed lads” - and sitting there was 40013