Windcutter Wagons

Following the Beer Festival there has been a shunt at Rothley and the rail crane was brought next to B560676. On Wed the C&W team were able to hoist our new fixed end for a trial fit.


It is very close but one of the stanchions has become slightly "twisted" with the welding so does not sit evenly against the headstock. We are assessing various methods to address the situation.


Yesterday I popped along to do a bit of undercoating.

 

Another workday has seen the new fixed end straightened ready for lifting back into position for the final fettling and welding in place. We used a straight piece of section and "G" clamped it with multiple clamps, then the temporary brace has been tack welded. The welds on the headstock have been dressed true.

 

On another website, the question was asked about how much does a Windcutter wagon cost to overhaul. So I put together a rough costing by saying a new floor uses about £700 for new steel sheet. But there is also about 40 cutting discs and 80 welding rods. Coating the inside uses about 5l of bitumastic. Painting the outside uses about 2 to 5l of primer, 4l of undercoat and 4l of topcoat. There are also sundries of vac cylinder overhaul, hoses, grinding discs, wire brushes, paint brushes etc....so a broad total cost of about £2500 direct cost.....and about 300 hours of volunteer time (4 people 6 hours per week, three months per overhaul).
We have 30 wagons in the fleet and 23 have been recently (within 6 years) overhauled. There are three now at Rothley for completion over the next 5 months and the last four at Swithland for completion in 2027.
As we hope these overhauls will last about 30 years, with two paint jobs in that time, the future costs will be less.
Seeing Two Windcutter rakes running over this Gala weekend is why we do the work! We are having a Sales stand at Rothley on Sat and Sunday so please come along to speak to the team and show your support.

 

*Cough* and some in Wales...

 

The Gala went very well and the five visiting "small" engines were very well received. There were Two Windcutter rakes running which was a "First" and makes our efforts so worthwhile. I have seen a couple of pictures on line, but have not yet got one to post.
The Sales Stand was busy on both days, so a big "Thank You" to those who showed their support. The money raised will obviously go into buying steel, paint, angle grinder discs and welding rods!

 

I was able to get one picture of the "all grey" rake, which had three brake vans (one was used for the "Brake Van Experience") whilst it was at Loughborough.

 

Nice to see our "other" wagons in operation. I thought the BHR had at least 7 mineral wagons though?