Albert Buchannan started trading at Gloucester Docks in 1870 and by 1880 was listed in trade directories as a 'coal and coke merchant' and in census records as 'coal and timber merchant'. Later in 1901 this is revised to 'timber importer' and shortly after his son W.L. Buchannan is listed as 'coal merchant'.
W.L. Buchannan ordered wagons from the Gloucester RCW in 1902, one numbered 2 (photographed July) along with a repair contract for this and a second wagon, suggesting he already had one wagon in operation as number 3 was not photographed until November. Wagon 4 joined in 1904 and 6 in 1906, though repair contract again suggest wagon 5 was in operation by then.
In 1927 the coal business of Chadborn, Son & Taylor was taken over by W.L.Buchannan, later incorporated under the name W.L.Buchannan & Co (Gloucester) Ltd. Gloucester RCW wagon hire records show renewals and an extra wagon bringing the fleet to 8 in the late 1930s. Although the wagons would have been pooled after 1939 the company continued in business into the 1950s.
Gloucester Docks photo courtesy Ian Pope collection.