Bowes railway, carriage and wagon

Thank you, we are aiming to get the running fleet back to a reasonable number again. With fingers crossed 13 wooden hoppers up from 4. 7 steel hoppers up from 4 in 2015. 7 bogie waggons up from 5. 3 brake vans and 8 other vehicles to be maintained too. But the Waggon department is once again up and running at Bowes.

 

That's a relief. I called in there on the way back from visiting some friends in that part of the world, some years ago now, and was very impressed - at the time there was a basically brand new wooden underframe taking shape in the workshop. There aren't many railways undertaking that level of rebuild, let alone an entire fleet of the things. So it's good to see some real progress is being made up there once again.

 

It's alays been a big part of Bowes was its waggons. The preservation trust inherited 41 wooden hoppers from the NCB this is now down to 33. But we are slowly getting the track and infastructure up to modern standards, fingers crossed allowing passenger trains again this year. With rope haulage returning in a few years time.

 

More C & W progress over the last few days. Here is a jobs list for 2016.
Waggons in the shops.
Waggon 1104 - final stages of repaint, only final lettering to do.
Waggon 1195 - now completed just awaiting official photographs!
Waggon 364 - repaint completed, just awaiting fitting of new crossbeam.
Waggon 717 - repaint nearly completed with wheels and livery to completed. New internal bracing required.
Waggon 308 - new frame awaiting assembly, then repaint and relivery needed.
Brake van 3 - internal repaint completed, van now back in traffic.
D056 - awaiting final lettering

Waggons
Loco coal bogie 1424 - 2 new planks needed, plus new steel floor and repaint.
B33 - 4 new planks, new floor and repaint needed.
6196 - new end to fabricate, repaint into Derwenthaugh livery.
6005 - weights waggon, to repaint into Ashington livery.
289 - 3 new planks, further internal bracing and repaint.
1289 - return to traffic with new bracing.
Ballast waggon - repaint.
Pwd van - new van body
775 - future repair
573 - future repair
Tank - repaint.

 

Thanks for the details of what is happening, I have not seen much about what has happen since the fire and the destruction of some of the your wagons. Just out of interest how many wagons where lost in the end and how many parts have been kept to rebuild one day?

Regards

Colin

 

Hello Colin, four hoppers were damaged beyond repair, one hopper was severely damaged but survived, whilst two flat waggons were partially damaged. From the four hoppers the metal components were salvageable only. The partially damaged hoppers sadly remains in its fire damaged condition (as all our vehicles are part of a scheduled anent monument it cant be deconstructed so it wI'll remain that way for some time to come). Whilst the two flat waggons were given a full overhaul and are now back in traffic. Thanks to Stone road who is a member on here.
We currently have 9 operational wooden hoppers (out of 33), 7 operational steel hoppers and 7 flat waggons plus around 8 other vehicles such as guards vans.
We aim to eventually have 18 wooden hoppers in working condition.

 

waggon B33 nears the end of our most comprehensive overhaul to date, with new floor, frames and end planks. now the doors and a repaint await.

 

Loco coal bogie 1424, has had a rebuilt and repaint. It is awaiting the retreading of its longitudinal bolts, a new floor and floor plates. It is intended to use it as a mobile coaling platform.

 

With the near completion of 1424 and B33. work will continue on 364 with fitting it'd new centre beam. Whilst work will begin to preserve 1111 in its unrestored condition as an exhibit. Future projects look likely to be 1220 (repaint), 1289 (new cross beam), tank (repaint), ballast hopper (brakes, repaint and rewelding of doors).

 

Nice indoor facility you have there!

 

Thanks, it's originally a coal bunker built in 1824, then converted into a waggon repair shop in 1932 after the closure of springwell colliery. It's still used as a waggon repair shed, it can house 10 vehicles. Plus the paint shop next door can house another 4.

 

Start of 2017 update:
B33 is nearing the end of the overhaul. It now only requires the assembly of new doors, with the old metal awaiting fitting.
Loco coal 1424 is awaiting the cutting of its new floor.
Guards van A18 has had timber replaced in its window frames and is now awaiting a repaint.
B39 has had examinations undertaken on its axle boxes as has the PWD van.
B24 is awaiting the refining of its seats, new vac pipes and a new custom made handrail.
Lastly Trout Ballast hopper 13 is having welding repairs undertaken to the box and chutes. Then work on its doors and brakes. Before a quick cosmetic overhaul.
It's going to be a busy month. Pictures of progress soon.

 

Cracking work, you guys don't hang around!

 

Yes we don't have much chance to really haha. 40 wooden waggons to restore. A scheduled ancient monument (our workshops and buildings) to maintain, restore the steam hauled railway to running order, restore the rope haulage system. So no time to stand still.

 

B33 had its old doors trial fitted for the last time to ensure, all bolts matched up. The iron work was then removed. It is now partially fitted to the new doors. Which should be fitted in the next few days.

 

The new doors are coming together nicely.

 

B33 has had its new door fitted. Whilst Do56 has had its lettering finished, B1 has had a repaint and brake van A18 is beginning to have its wasp stripes freshened up.

 

Final stages on B33 with the hinges now attached to the door. With lining on the side now to complete.
The cutting of the floor for loco coal 1424 has also started.
And brake van A18 has had its Wasp stripes refreshed.