Channel 4 Programme

Me too!

Picking up on Ray's point, the Maespoeth Mafia have turned out at least a couple of timber chassis, though for dumb buffered and unsprung 4w wagons utilising original restored ironwork. (The new Corris carriages are of course steel framed, chassis and superstructure).

The "manufactured wood" (laminate?) intrigues me. Presumably design acceptance by insurers means they're happy enough with an all-timber chassis, but I'd love to know how this fascinating application compares with either traditional seasoned oak and iron or steel construction for strength and flexibility, or the halfway house of the (stunning) Knotty carriage restoration a couple of years back. Question applicable to all wooden stock I guess, but (showing my ignorance) is any fire retardant involved?

I noticed too that internal chassis members weren't given the fine varnished finish of the visible bit, as I'd expect, but I'm curious as to what treatment is/will be applied ..... or does the lamination process itself intrinsically provide protection?

I've got more and our very own @gwalkeriow is doubtless going to get his patience sorely tested with me asking. I do my IoW carriages in styrene sheet and section, though they are admittedly somewhat smaller!

 

Another thumbs-up here - a thoroughly absorbing programme

 

I thought it a very interesting and informative programme.
One question though, if 1st class passengers got plush cushions and 2nd class passengers got plain boards to sit on, what did 3rd class passengers get?

 

An open truck

 

They got to stand in a shoebox in t'septic tank!
No, seriously, I think at one point he said there would be leather seats. At the same time, there was a shot of a very nice lincrusta ceiling- would this be in Second class too?

 

Both 2nds do now indeed have leather covering on the seats and a small amount of padding.

I think the ceilings in 2nd are even more impressive than the 1st.

 

I loved the engineered timber underframe, this should be the path for any timber underframes from now on.

Sawdust.

 

I thought as much.

 

Mark not only designed the underframe on 3D CAD but also did a full stress analysis. The stress analysis suggested a few zones where some refinement was appropriate and this was done before the timber was ordered.

 

I have been advised that No.10 will be on show to our visitors from today. It is currently in the C&W workshops having breaking and a few other jobs done.

 

Indeed Mark's basic design was prepared long before the Channel 4 project was even thought of. You do have to plan ahead!

 

I visited the IOWSR in June last year, and wondered what was hidden behind the sheeting in the carriage works. Now all is revealed!

Despite the very short timescale, it looks like carriage works haven’t compromised on their usual high standards.

An amazing restoration, well done to all involved.

 

We finally have permission to publish photos

 

Quite a transformation Gary! This was the same carriage that I photographed in Train Story 3 years ago:



IWR No. 10 from 1864 by Tom James, on Flickr

Tom

 

One thing that I did notice when in a set with other Havenstreet stock, she seemed slightly wider than the other carriages.

Did the old IWR have a more generous loading gauge?

 

The Oldbury's are very boxy in appearance with no tumblehome whatsoever, I honestly do not know what the original IWR loading gauge was.

 

The underframe (never liked them being described as a chassis) does incorporate a hefty steel subframe in the centre that takes the drawbar and buffing forces. I don't know what finish is on the internal part of the underframe, I would imagine wood preservative. I have not crawled underneath the Oldbury so do not know the detail but I frequently crawl underneath LBSCR 4115

 

Nope ..... NO 3rd class carriages whatsoever originally! The IWR at first complied with the letter of the law by using 2nd class stock to met "Parly" obligations and not one train more. If you were a 3rd class peasant, all other passenger workings were a no-go!

The original rolling stock tender was let for:
4x 1st class carriages
12x 1st/2nd composites (4 having 'break' compartments)
8x 2nd class carriages
20x wagons
Already bolstered by an additional order early on, original passenger running numbers were given as:
1-4 three compartment brake 2nd
5-8 four compartment 2nd
9-20 three compartment 'saloon 1st'/2nd*
21-24 three compartment 1st

Stock was oil lit, heating was absent

The first stock built specifically for 3rd class were 5x five compartment carriages from (the same manufacturer as the initial order) Oldbury, sanctioned in Jan 1873.

*the carriage in last night's proggie was one of these.

 

Point cheerfully conceded Gary .... "Underframe" it is then!

Is the 'ambulance' underframe (which the body started the proggie on) now to serve a similar purpose ahead of the next restoration (well, you did mention a 2nd 'flat pack' timber frame)?, or is it a restoration prosoect in it's own right? ... or merely some random item of wagonry acquired for that specific purpose?

Dare I ask why 4115 is the only place to be seen limbo dancing?

 

The 'ambulance' wagon is one of the BR Lowfits that were transferred to the Island , the short term will see it being use to stretcher future patients around.

We would love to have 4115 over one of the pits to fit the brake system, alas something else always seems to be in occupying the pits.