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West Somerset Railway Wagon Restoration

Discussion in 'Heritage Rolling Stock' started by nick813, Mar 5, 2018.

  1. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    Hello,
    There has been a upsurge in wagon restoration/rebuild on the WSR

    SR/ WD brake Van 49017 major rebuild
    Two MOD Open wagons: 46253 & 46242 both have had a repaint and some plank replacement.
    GWR 16307 Mink has been sign written
    Esso Tank Wagon 1822 is in line for restoration
    GWR Open Wagon 135744 is at Williton with major frame rebuild by WSRA Restorations.


    Anyone down that neck of the woods will be welcome to come and give the WSR a helping hand.
    Few more in the pipe line..........!

    Will update as and when......
     
    michaelh, Paul42, 1472 and 1 other person like this.
  2. GWR Man.

    GWR Man. Well-Known Member

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  3. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    for those who are not on FB...
    One of the WD Open Wagons:


    28698884_1818956254846315_4105370478471199502_o.jpg


    Photograph: Ken Davidge
     
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  4. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    some photographs taken of GWR 135744 open wagon receiving some TLC in the Swindon Shed Williton
    The highlighted areas show the placement of the original GWR W Irons. Copy of IMG_4520.JPG Copy of IMG_4522.JPG IMG_4499.JPG IMG_4526.JPG IMG_4490.JPG IMG_4498.JPG
     
  5. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    pmh_74 and Bluenosejohn like this.
  6. Copper-capped

    Copper-capped Part of the furniture

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    You'll summon you know who with that sort of talk! :eek:
     
  7. gwalkeriow

    gwalkeriow Well-Known Member

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    The furthest we have had to go with wagons is; complete new oak frames, new W irons, new forged knee brackets, new set of road springs, new drawbar springs. It is all doable but you need the space, the budget and the will and dedication. When you have that it is easy :)
     
  8. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I'm sure we could do it, but given the choice... I'm more interested in getting to the sign-writing as quickly as possible! :)
     
  9. gwalkeriow

    gwalkeriow Well-Known Member

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    Yes very much the icing on the cake.
     
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  10. 4950

    4950 New Member

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    Strange sounding question, but I presume its a little easier with wooden framed wagons? I guess with a wooden framed wagon, if the frames need to be slightly differently sized to what is commercially available then they can be worked accordingly, while I guess with steel framed you are a little bit stuck with what is available (at a price that suits!).

    This is only what I presume though, so I may be completely wrong!
     
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  11. gwalkeriow

    gwalkeriow Well-Known Member

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    Yes that is a very good point, oak suppliers will supply to virtually any size that you specify. Whereas with steel you either stick with the sizes that are available or go to the trouble of fabricating the sizes that you need. We have replaced a good number of our coach headstocks, they are of a section and size that is unavailable so we fabricate to retain the original size.
     
  12. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    The ropes look good
     
  13. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    I know that Wagon Repairs at Bewdley usually have to do a lot of welding - and thats generally on overhauling (as distinct to restoring) wagons.
     
  14. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    When I was an engineering trainee with the NCB I spent a few days in the wagon shops at Allerton Bywater. One day a timber framed coal wagon came in for new solebars. The whole job of replacing the two was done in one day. Admittedly, the replacement timber was largely prepared beforehand but I was still very impressed by it. From memory, wagon supported, all tie bar nuts undone/burned off, W irons dropped clear and other metalwork removed, buffer beams knocked off the tenons on one side, old solebar knocked off the stretchers and the new one knocked on. Any mis-aligned holes rectified with a red hot poker then all steelwork rebolted before repeating the process on the other side. Simples.
     
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  15. gwalkeriow

    gwalkeriow Well-Known Member

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    The new Oak frame sets are basically put together in one day, with the two length ways tie bars and the two crossways tie bars holding everything together. Wooden framed goods vehicles are actually quite simple to construct and cheap. The major costs would be wheelsets, axleboxes, buffing gear, springs etc the Oak frames cost typically £1,200 so not a great deal of money.
     
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  16. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    Fund has decided that 'restoration' of wagons has now become 'rebuild' of wagons. So if they require major surgery, then that is what is required.
     
  17. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

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    Have been corrected on another site: replace buffer beam for headstock.
     
  18. Blackdown Boy

    Blackdown Boy New Member

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    Any latest updates on this thread and in view of any evictions that may occur at Washford, are there any plans to re-locate?
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2020

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