New bogie frames

Considering the age of some of the Mark 1s and Grouping coaching stock now, has anyone ever constructed new bogie frames for a coach? I wonder if there will become a point when new Mark 1 bogies will need to be constructed en masse, what design would be best to pick?

 

Neil,

Yes the M&GN Society at the NNR has built new bogies for its Wisbech & Upwell tramcar. They were based on the original design with wooden composite frames replaced with welded steel box section. The new frame has fittings recovered from BR Mk1 bogies and a set of bogie wagon wheels. Because of their low centre of gravity they ride surprisingly well.

As to whether bogies will need building to replace Mk1 or earlier bogies is debatable. I would suggest that they won't, as least for many years. We have overhauled many sets of Mk1 bogies, and provided they are not twisted they should go on forever. We have scrapped a set that had obviously been damaged beyond repair in a heavy shunt at some point in its life (heavy enough to smash the centre castings and push the frames out of square!). On the Quads, one of the Gresley bogies was found to have wasted severely in one corner but that easily built up with weld to give the requisite thickness.

Steve Allen