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Windcutter Wagons

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

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  1. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    We are now putting bits back onto wagon#16. Starting with a new support bracket for the door side stanchion. There is a bit more welding to do before it is finished. DSC02365.JPG
     
    Flying Phil, Feb 9, 2023
    #321
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  2. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Meanwhile some thin sections on the other support bracket have been cut out and new steel welded in place - with a bit more finishing to do.
    DSC02437.JPG
     
    Flying Phil, Feb 23, 2023
    #322
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  3. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Another job on #16 has been started as we now have the Vacuum cylinder apart.
    DSC02441.JPG
    It is not in too bad condition, so new seals and rolling ring should be sufficient.
     
    Flying Phil, Mar 3, 2023
    #323
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  4. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    We have also appointed a new "Social Media Manager" .... Well one of the team has skills in that area and so she has set up a Facebook site for the Windcutter Project. This, we hope will attract a new demographic and broaden our appeal.
    She has said that the Facebook page is up and running.

    Link below
    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090937084383

    This will be kept up to date with our restoration progress and other activities. It already has photographs and videos. Any constructive comments will be welcomed either on the site or on here.
     
    Flying Phil, Mar 4, 2023
    #324
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  5. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Work has continued in overhauling the Vacuum Cylinder. Derusted and primer applied. We also
    DSC02459.JPG
     
    Flying Phil, Mar 9, 2023
    #325
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  6. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    There was a hole in the North end headstock and it was thin in some other areas. We removed the buffers, then the drawhook - then we started to cut out the bad sections.....
    DSC02493.JPG

    We have a length of channel section for the replacement headstock but the hidden centre section was also badly corroded. So now we will have to remove the drawhook support section as well! This is because, with the corroded floor, water had gathered in this region and couldn't drain away.
     
    Flying Phil, Mar 22, 2023
    #326
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  7. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    To be honest that dragbox design isn't the best. It works OK in a box van but in an open wagon, once the drain hole gets blocked the top channel rots out. What blocks the drain hole? In my experience, birds nests...
     
    pmh_74, Mar 23, 2023
    #327
  8. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Hi pmh
    You are quite correct about birds nests. Also that end was originally the opening door but then with the rebody it was swopped round. However, as the rust took hold, the end of the floor started to let water over the headstock again.

    At the weekend, there was a meeting of GCR staff and volunteers and it was said that, as part of the GCR 50 Anniversary weekend 17-18th June, there was to be a freight working - Windcutters plus vans etc. for a 50 wagon train! This time it is 50@50.
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2023
    Flying Phil, Mar 27, 2023
    #328
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  9. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    More work on #16 with the dragbox sections removed
    DSC02527.JPG

    And the two angle iron hinge brackets have been cut, fitted, drilled and welded in place.
    DSC02531.JPG DSC02532.JPG
     
    Flying Phil, Mar 29, 2023
    #329
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  10. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Thanks to the Rothley C & W staff( in particular Pat!) the corroded vac pipe sections have been removed from the cast swan necks, which did get Very Hot!
    DSC02528s.jpg
     
    Flying Phil, Mar 30, 2023
    #330
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  11. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Yesterday saw a lot of work being done by a team of 4 people. The North end has had more prep work done and three gusset plate removed - which meant removing the brake hanger brackets - which each had three Big rivets plus welds....
    The new pins were fitted and welded on the side door hinges and the doors loosely fitted. One side stanchion has had a new base made and welded. Some more of the underframe has been prepped and undersealed. The vac pipe parts have been primered.
     
    Flying Phil, Apr 6, 2023
    #331
  12. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Some pictures of the recent work.
    DSC02557.JPG DSC02558.JPG DSC02559.JPG DSC02560.JPG
     
    Flying Phil, Apr 10, 2023
    #332
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  13. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    The new section for the headstock has been trimmed to length and the square hole for the drawhook support has been cut out.
    DSC02569.JPG

    On the East side, repairs have been completed to the webs on the underframe.
    DSC02568.JPG
     
    Flying Phil, Apr 18, 2023
    #333
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  14. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Wednesday saw three members of the team steadily working on three different areas. The lower support beam for the draw hook at the North end has been sourced, shaped and fitted with some welding done. More underframe repairs have been done in the centre and some repair patching has been done on the end door.
    Much time was also spent talking to the visiting engineering students from NTU who were spending the day on the railway seeing the many types of engineering and heritage engineering. As all three of the team were retired graduate engineers themselves, there were many useful conversations.
     
    Flying Phil, Apr 20, 2023
    #334
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  15. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    The vacuum cylinder has had its new seals and rolling ring installed. It has been tested and is now back in position with the brake rigging attached.
    DSC02587.JPG
     
    Flying Phil, May 1, 2023
    #335
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  16. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Further progress yesterday with work being done on fabricating a new dragbox.
    DSC02591.JPG
    Now that the vac cylinder has been refurbished, the central underframe has been prepped and undersealed, then part of the new floor was fitted on the West side and then welded in place. DSC02592.JPG
    The East side is also fitted, but not welded, as the new vac pipe has still to be made and installed.
     
    Flying Phil, May 4, 2023
    #336
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  17. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    Interesting. Having rebuilt four dragboxes of this type so far (two completely, two top half only), they use a wide U-channel rather than the L-section you seem to have used. Is that based on what was there when you took the old one apart, or a cost-saving measure? If it's the latter I'd be concerned it may not have the strength of the original. Mine have a large drain hole too (much easier if drilled before it is welded in!), however you might not need it with a steel floor above, but I think personally I'd still put one in.

    77213420.jpg (597×400) (palbrick.com)
    77213426.jpg (597×400) (palbrick.com)

    These two photos should make it clear how I did it. The slots were welded up and new gusset plates added afterwards. (On the other wagon I did, new gusset plates weren't needed so the slots were done in a slightly different position.)
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2023
    pmh_74, May 5, 2023
    #337
  18. Flying Phil

    Flying Phil Part of the furniture

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    Hi pmh
    Thanks for those pics and write up.
    In post #326 you can see that it was a "U" section that came out. However, we are still in the early stage of rebuilding the drag box and that L shaped channel is only tacked in place. We are working closely with The GCR C & W staff so I'm sure the final result will be more than strong enough.
     
    Flying Phil, May 5, 2023
    #338
  19. class8mikado

    class8mikado Part of the furniture

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    Does anyone know if any of the Slope Sided ones made it into preservation... ? or the ex sncf's ?
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2023
    class8mikado, May 5, 2023
    #339
  20. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    There's at least one of the SCNF ones around, possibly two (can't be bothered to go digging). Can't remember if any slope sided ones made it, don't think so but would be happy to be proved wrong.
    It's a shame in some ways that the GCR's fleet is so uniform in appearance. There is of course one there which was built with bottom doors. (It no longer has them, but the evidence is there to be seen.)
     
    pmh_74, May 9, 2023
    #340
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