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The Great Western Railway was a
huge business. Never content to sit back and wait for passengers and
goods traffic to turn up at its stations and depots, the GWR put an
enormous amount of energy and resources into selling itself to
customers, whether for the annual holiday, a half-day excursion or a
new factory connected to its system and producing goods which could
be transported by GWR freight services.
The GWR was always well aware of
the benefits accruing from carefully planned marketing strategies
and ambitious advertising campaigns. Its prosperity depended on high
levels of service and efficiency bringing in new and repeat
business.
It created images which struck a chord with the public, such as the
'Holiday Line' and the 'Ocean Coast' and played a large part in
helping to develop tourist destinations like Torquay,
Weston-Super-Mare, Porthcawl and many others. The GWR also targeted
American tourists with images of historical / rural England and of
King Arthur and Celtic legends. |
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Freight was not neglected - with
extensive dock developments in South Wales, 'new' industries in
West London and widespread agricultural traffic, it was central to
the Company's interests.
Alan Bennett's extensive study of
the GWR's business enterprise has been distilled into his usual
accessible style in this important book, accompanied by relevant
illustrations in colour and black and white - GWR posters,
brochures, flyers etc, many of which have not previously been
published in book form. This title fills an important gap in
published histories of the GWR and even ardent enthusiasts of the
Railway are likely to find their knowledge expanded.
Softback, 215 x 273mm, 96 pages,
100 black and white and colour illustrations |
