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Windcutter Wagons

Discussion in 'Heritage Rolling Stock' started by Flying Phil, Dec 11, 2018.

  1. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    We were able to see how the guards and drivers are trained on goods train operation over the weekend as we were allowed to be in the "spare" brakevan during the training runs. The first picture is the rake at Loughborough and second at Swithland, waiting for the service train to come through and the diner train pausing in the loop whilst coffee is being served...



    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
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  2. Dave Bower

    Dave Bower New Member

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  3. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Thanks for the pictures Dave. It was a good weekend and we were hauled by 4 different engines and rode in three different brakevans (SR, MR, BR).
     
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  4. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Back to work on #19 and repairs are in hand to the end door. We are also going to remove the buffers at that end as there is a worrying amount of corrosion on the ends of the headstock.[​IMG]
     
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  5. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    A start has been made on a repaint of #19 whilst it is still at Rothley. The Box van has also been getting some glossy topcoat. DSCF7079.JPG
     
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  6. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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  7. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    More painting of #19. dcf smaller.jpg
     
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  8. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    One buffer is free and the rivets on the other one are being melted out.... DSCF7176s.jpg
     
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  9. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    For what it’s worth, “B279719” is one of the more mysterious wagons in the windcutter fleet with no trace of its original identity ever found. Don’t suppose anything came to light this time around, did it?

    All I know is that it was one of several converted c.1969 by Standard Wagon for Soda Ash traffic and hired to ICI Winnington. This involved welding the doors closed and fitting an inner skin. Does this wagon still have the inner skin? (I know at least one has had it removed and all sorts of horrors lurked below!)

    It would have had a different number in the ICI fleet but that is also unknown (the only one we know is “B279722” = 790). It then found its way to Rover (Longbridge) from where it was preserved in 1992. In the Longbridge fleet it was one of 1-6 but which one would require more digging (I do have this info somewhere).

    If anyone has any details (lists etc.) of wagons included in the Soda Ash conversions or subsequently sold by Standard Wagon to Rover, I’d be interested. (We have a list of wagons BR sold directly to Rover in 1987, but I believe these ex-Soda Ash wagons were earlier sales.) So far, no such records have come to light.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  10. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Thanks for that info pmh. Certainly it does still have the inner skin (or two!) and there has been a build up of debris between the skins - most is now out. There is evidence that it was painted blue but no other identification.
    I did get busy with the angle grinder and the East top door now opens. DSCF7178s.jpg
     
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  11. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    The East side door has now been opened, both buffers are free to be removed and more painting has been done on #19. DSCF7201.JPG
     
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  12. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Now that the door has been opened it has highlighted the fact that most of the floor should be replaced.... The end section will need to be removed anyway to allow access for the headstock ends to be replaced. 20191030_135104.jpg
    This also highlights one of the conundrums of preservation - do we keep this wagon in the condition ....albeit well kept, that it arrived in? This is with the inner skin put in by ICI, the welded top flaps and doors. In fact, we are effectively returning the wagon back to its original BR condition as it is one of the few in our collection with the original body, many of our other wagons were rebodied in the 1970's.
    What is more concerning is that I have become a geek who knows a fair bit about 16T mineral wagons!! :eek:
     
  13. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    We have now had a quotation to refurbish our two wheelsets by machining and fitting new tyres.......hmmm I think the wagon #23 will have to be used as a static display and for slow speed shunting only, until we can obtain some better SH wheelsets, with those large journals......
     
  14. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Would you reveal the amount?
    PM reply if not for public viewing, we might be needing something like that sometime and need an idea as too how much.
     
  15. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Hi Ploughman
    PM sent
     
  16. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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  17. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Our Windcutter wagon rake will be out at the end of this month as the K1 62005 has arrived at the GCR for the Jan 24 - 26th Gala. It was out yesterday on a photographic charter. It will be joined by "Pitchford Hall" plus, up to 6 "Home fleet" locomotives.
    The next outing will be the "Goods Galore" event which is earlier this year, now at the end of March (28th 29th).
    Meanwhile, in the yard at Rothley, we are getting to work repairing the floor of #19. DSCF7502.JPG
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2020
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  18. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    The "W" iron tie brackets on #19 have been removed so the wheelsets can be swapped in the near future. The Ops Dept took the opportunity to swap #23 with a wagon from Quorn Sidings during this weekends "Steam Gala". DSCF7503.JPG
     
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  19. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Wheelsets changed on Wagon #19 thanks to the shed staff, but we now have to replace the temporary bearings with some re-metalled ones that we have in stock. The headstock and floor repairs are continuing.
     
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  20. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Just to update this, at the beginning of March the head-stock had been repaired and the buffers have gone back in place. These old style buffers have rubber discs which need to be compressed to lock them in position, we borrowed the shed "Spring compressor"..... DSCF7627.JPG
     

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