Windcutter Wagons

You are quite right pmh. However that is the number that we use on our database and records.
The wagon was one of the first to arrive on the GCR in 1992 ....It turned out to be one of the worst bodywise and was unfitted so stayed at Swithland against the loading dock. I gave it a very quick lick of paint on the sides in the late 1990's. Then it was taken to Quorn in 2017 and I gave it a more comprehensive repaint....but I don't do numbering!
It is the early body style with 90 degree joins at the bottom edge - with repairs on repairs! It also has the remains of its "top flap" doors.

 

Definitely not hopper wagons !

 

Great picture - thanks for posting!

 

Sorry Phil, off on a bit of a tangent here but, if this wagon still carries (most of) its correct B273798 identification plate, as your photo shows, how did it ever acquire the wrong B279727 number in your database and records?

 

Hi NBDR
When the wagons were arriving they initially were in a real state and most wagons had no visible identification. They were numbered 1 - 36 as they arrived in yellow felt tip for ease of identification. Then as they were repainted it was realised that they would need proper numbering so a block of unissued numbers were used B279701 to B279742 (eventually).
However, as real numbers became visible and detective work (Some by pmh I believe) discovered the correct numbers they have been used.....but B279727/B273798 has never, yet, been through the works!

 

Yes, the detective work is ongoing, sporadically. If anyone has detailed records of soda ash conversions through Standard Wagon, or British Coal internal user numbers specific to Onllwyn, I would like to hear from them…

There are around eight which will probably forever remain a mystery and keep their 2797xx numbers, unless further records come to light. But, like NBDR, it did seem odd to me that you were referencing a number which nobody outside the small group of Windcutter volunteers would ever have heard of.


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.....mea culpa.
Still, we had a good workday yesterday with two more lower edges welded in place on B570618 together with the three bottom edges on the South (fixed) end cut to suit.

 

Thanks Phil I guessed there must be a logical explanation. It reminded me of a description of 'TOPS' that I was once given back in the 1970's:

"A wonderful piece of technology for keeping track of all our rail vehicles that, unfortunately, depends largely on the lowest paid Shunter walking the length of all the sidings in his yard, often in the dark, cold and wet, taking note of every wagon number, probably on the back of a fag packet with only a stubby little pencil."

You could see how errors might just have crept in!

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/52467480@N08/6458962987/in/photostream/

Definitely hopper wagons.

 

Meanwhile it is that time of the year when our wagons come to Rothley for their annual "Fitness to Run" examination. They are being moved in two batches so we have the sight of about 13, 16T mineral wagons at one time in Rothley yard....


So far we have three that will need a bit of work to get them passed. Nine have been passed and returned to Swithland.

 

Yesterday saw a lot of work done on wagon B570618 with underframe cracks being repaired, solebars prepped and painted and more floor sheets seam welded. We also saw 11 more 16T wagons being returned to Swithland having been passed for their "Fitness to Run".....We are getting closer to seeing our "Lengthy train" running in November.....But will we get it to 30??

 

As TOPS clerk in the early 70s in Southampton I can identify with that description of how numbers were taken ! Quite often a consist would contain a wagon number on the system as being in ' March marshalling yard " - but was on the Poole to Eastleigh goods ...A quick call to Eastleigh to recheck on arrival ,only to find out numbers were reversed or worse, nothing like they should have been ..,,happy days.

 

B570618 is close to being finished as all the major steel sections have been tacked or fully welded in place. There are only the three small plates to be welded at the bottom of the fixed end and then that end can be painted.

 

We are looking forward to the Autumn Gala (Sept 29th - Oct 2nd) when we will see our Windcutter wagons in action, together with other freight trains. Our latest restoration, B 570618, was not quite finished by the end of Friday but we will be working during the week to complete the last few details. We will also have our Information/Sales Stand outside Rothley shed on the Saturday and Sunday. Please pop along and chat to some of the team and see our display.

 

On Wednesday the last small sections of welding were completed on B570618, together with all of the inside undersealing and most of the outside painting - really just the numbering to do now.
We have been gathering display items for our stand at Rothley during the weekend.
For the Gala there will be two freight trains running on both Saturday and Sunday. They will be Windcutter and Mixed freight I think.

 

Sadly I missed seeing the gala as my car broke down! But I did get to Rothley today and B570618 is complete bar numbers and vac hoses.


Display for our Sales Stand.

 

We now have wagon B598163 in the shed at Rothley. This failed its FTR due to headstock corrosion. We have taken the draw hook out so that the dragbox can be properly assessed before deciding how to repair that area. At first sight though, it does appear to be only needing a localised repair. In the meantime, we are also doing some smaller patch repairs to the floor and sides.
We are having our "Lengthy train" of at least 26 wagons running during the Last Hurrah Gala.
We had hoped for 30@30 but these pesky wagons are needing more and more doing to them to get back into running order!!

 

The headstock repair to B598163 has been completed together with two cracked welds repaired and 12 (so far) patch repairs to the floor and body corners. The inside has been mostly undersealed and it is hoped to finish this wagon next week. Three weeks to go before the "Last Hurrah Gala" and the running of our "Lengthy Train" - but will it be 30@30??
It was also good to meet up with other wagon groups at Quorn for the QW&W weekend.

 

After last minute problems with vacuum brake release valves, we now have our last two wagons all FTR'd and ready to go to Swithland tomorrow, so that they can be in use over the weekend. We will be having an Information/Sales stand on Loughborough platform in the General Waiting room so please call in for a chat and get background information.

 

Well we did get 23 wagons and two brake vans running today...


We had hopes for three more wagons, but it was not meant to be...We are running the rake again tomorrow.