Windcutter Wagons

The vacuum cylinder has been dismantled and is in reasonable condition. It will be cleaned up, have new seals fitted and be re-assembled next week.

 

The was a coment in the beano that the windcutters were painted grey even if fitted, I was wondering if he GC run with the rake fitted or loose. Whilst I dont sign the GCR I have travelled on it and cant recolect any steep gradients which would preclude unfitted running. I have run unfitteds as a guard on KESR and Severn Valley. In the pics in Steam Railway I also noticed a lack of side lamps. If trying to recreate the viaual apearance of the windcuttershould they be uswd even if th erake was fitted. With the GC being two track with loops you could recreate two reds and a white when recessed in a loop. Iwould be interested to hear from GC crews on this issue

 

Whilst not a GC crew member, the Windcutters run as "Fitted" on the GCR and all but one of the wagons are either Vac braked or have a through pipe. The ones that arrived "un fitted" have had through pipes installed. Whilst they could run as unfitted (or Swingers?) the GC has a rule that trains must be piped...hence the fitting of through pipes and expensive maintenance of vacuum braking systems!
I have seen side lamps in use on most of the wagon rakes, particularly in the last few years. Does your reference to "Two reds and a white" mean that there are three trains occupying the loop lines and the two main lines?

 

I think threelinkdave is referring to the side lamps that are used in addition to the tail lamp on unfitted trains. These normally show a white light to the front, so that the loco crew can look back to check their train is complete, and a red light to the rear. This gives a three red light display when viewed from behind. When looped however, the side lamp next to a running line alongside could be seen as presenting an emergency danger signal by the crew of a passing train on that running line and to avoid this it should be changed to show a white light both ways whilst in the loop. Hence "Two reds and a white."

 

Not aware of any prohibition on unfitted trains Phil. In fact several of the engineering wagons are unfitted, and we have run unfitted trains occasionally during galas. Just not often, as the majority of vehicles are braked or piped.

Adding lots of through pipes has its risks too. Some years ago during a photo charter a train was assembled with only one fitted vehicle (a box van) plus a load of piped wagons. Without much thought they connected the vacuum pipe up; the wheels on the van locked up under braking and it ended up with scrap wheelsets and never ran again.


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Hi pmh
We have been told several times over the years, that they don't want to run trains as unfitted - which is why we have added through pipes. I always wondered why, but was told we "had to fit through pipes". So maybe not a rule but somebody's interpretation? Of course it may be that it is the rule for the "High Speed" Windcutters....

 

Anyway here is a pic of progress with the refurbished vac cylinder being painted in primer.

 

There will be a Windcutter Information/Sales stand at Rothley during this weekends "Railways at Work" Gala. The timetable for passenger trains is quite intensive...and all the freight workings are on top of that!

 

The new angle iron hinge plate was cut to shape and welded yesterday and some more painting has been done. The worn "W" iron has been shimmed. As it is only 4 weeks ago that we started on this wagon, we are very pleased with the progress on B555696.

 

Some of the Windcutter team on Saturday enjoying the sunshine and Railway at Work Gala.

 

The Hinge plate angle iron is now completely welded and a start has been made welding the floor back in place. The West side has been gloss painted and the East side underframe has been prepped and black painted.

 

Further rapid progress has seen the Vac cylinder re-installed, the side door put back in place, new floor sheets welded and the outside finish painted (well nearly all!)

 

The final two items on our defects list have been rectified....
The seized screw couplings needed a bit of heat (Thanks to the C & W team)


and the split top corner was eased back into position with a big hammer and a big "G" clamp!....then welded.

 

is that a brake 'through' pipe stuck out

 

It is the vacuum pipe to connect to the brake cylinder(s). On this wagon there are two, with a manual valve block to switch between the loaded (2 cylinders) and empty (one) cylinder. We now only use the one cylinder. These pipe ends are painted red. If there are no vacuum brakes, the through pipe ends are painted white. We still have to fit the flexible rubber convoluted vacuum hoses (often called "Vac Bags").

 

Yes i saw the vac bag end clamp but thought these wagons were unfitted.

 

There have been discussions about this aspect as Grey mineral wagons certainly were "Unfitted" in BR days. So we should paint this wagon bauxite as it is "Fitted" (with vacuum brakes). However, when the project was first conceived it was to save and run a lengthy train of grey mineral wagons, but there were not that many left which were unfitted. There are two bauxite minerals which run in the GCR "Mixed Goods Rake", one is ours, the other belongs to the Quorn Wagon and Wagon group.

 

,Indeed, our Mineral is identifiable as it carries the post 1964 boxed livery.
Click for details

It also has the honour of being the first Mineral wagon to arrive on the preserved GCR as Nick the owner was unsure wether any would be saved at the time. Luckily the Windcutter group was formed and the rest is, as they say, history.
Phil can also confirm the Windcutter Bauxite Mineral is a converted Palbrick so has a 10ft wheelbase instead of 9ft the rest of the fleet and the one above have.

You have Nicks offer Phil, 356 can run with your rake if you wish.

 

Thanks Mattie for this information and indeed our bauxite wagon is the ex palbrick 10' Wheelbase number B596329.
Nick's offer is much appreciated and we have the date 12/13th November for our 30@30 Windcutter Weekend, so every one will help!

 

Just a bit more welding to do, vac hoses to install
and small paint jobs, then B 555696 (Ex B 279703) will be ready to join the working rake at Swithland.