Windcutter Wagons

Following the Beer Festival there has been a shunt at Rothley and the rail crane was brought next to B560676. On Wed the C&W team were able to hoist our new fixed end for a trial fit.


It is very close but one of the stanchions has become slightly "twisted" with the welding so does not sit evenly against the headstock. We are assessing various methods to address the situation.


Yesterday I popped along to do a bit of undercoating.

 

Another workday has seen the new fixed end straightened ready for lifting back into position for the final fettling and welding in place. We used a straight piece of section and "G" clamped it with multiple clamps, then the temporary brace has been tack welded. The welds on the headstock have been dressed true.

 

On another website, the question was asked about how much does a Windcutter wagon cost to overhaul. So I put together a rough costing by saying a new floor uses about £700 for new steel sheet. But there is also about 40 cutting discs and 80 welding rods. Coating the inside uses about 5l of bitumastic. Painting the outside uses about 2 to 5l of primer, 4l of undercoat and 4l of topcoat. There are also sundries of vac cylinder overhaul, hoses, grinding discs, wire brushes, paint brushes etc....so a broad total cost of about £2500 direct cost.....and about 300 hours of volunteer time (4 people 6 hours per week, three months per overhaul).
We have 30 wagons in the fleet and 23 have been recently (within 6 years) overhauled. There are three now at Rothley for completion over the next 5 months and the last four at Swithland for completion in 2027.
As we hope these overhauls will last about 30 years, with two paint jobs in that time, the future costs will be less.
Seeing Two Windcutter rakes running over this Gala weekend is why we do the work! We are having a Sales stand at Rothley on Sat and Sunday so please come along to speak to the team and show your support.

 

*Cough* and some in Wales...

 

The Gala went very well and the five visiting "small" engines were very well received. There were Two Windcutter rakes running which was a "First" and makes our efforts so worthwhile. I have seen a couple of pictures on line, but have not yet got one to post.
The Sales Stand was busy on both days, so a big "Thank You" to those who showed their support. The money raised will obviously go into buying steel, paint, angle grinder discs and welding rods!

 

I was able to get one picture of the "all grey" rake, which had three brake vans (one was used for the "Brake Van Experience") whilst it was at Loughborough.

 

Nice to see our "other" wagons in operation. I thought the BHR had at least 7 mineral wagons though?

 

We have been underframe painting and top coating on #676 whilst we are waiting for the new "W" iron to be rivetted. The new fixed end has been trimmed ready for welding in place.

 

Picture courtesy Brandon Morley

A truly unique event Two passing Windcutter trains!

 

A train of empties passing a train of empties...

 

Perhaps they could restore a few with raised floors. . . say about 6 in below the top rim! Just needs a thin covering with suitable lumps of rock to look like a fully loaded wagon.

 

It's obviously a set of coal empties going North to Annesely, and some coming south back to the quarry at Swithland

A fantastic achievement for you and the group Phil. Along with the other freight groups, a real credit to the GCR and something really unique in preservation.

 

Thanks Musket and pmh!
Re mdewell's idea
Over the years we have considered many ideas for loaded wagons but a few considerations are, in fact, quite significant.
1 Load with coal - 16T at about £400/T costs £6400 per wagon and the coal creates a wet corrosive liquid sitting at the bottom of the wagon for years accelerating future maintenance.
2 Create a False high floor - A steel floor uses about £400 sheet plus £250 support structure (Ref post ~603) Then £400 for coal and then you get the long term corrosion inside.
3 Create a lightweight floor (£250?) and false fibre glass/foam block "coal"(£100??), possible but if too light may vibrate/fall off in use.
4 Use old wooden pallets to create raised floor and then thin layer of coal on waterproof membrane (£50 plus£200?).

It may well be that we will pursue one or two of these ideas later on next year...once we have got all 30 of the wagons running (Three now at Rothley with the final four at Swithland).
Needless to say, if any one has other ideas, we are always willing to consider them.

 

My idea was more tongue in cheek than a serious suggestion, but thank you for at least thinking about it.

PS. I know at least 1 railway that has done this, Last year I saw that Ribble have a 5 plank with a false wooden floor supporting some coal, but suspect that is a static exhibit, so might be more problematic for something mobile.