The Woolsthorpe Branch - Harlaxton and Belvoir Ironstone Quarries

[Down_Under]

Good day everyone,

 

A rewarding day today reading and researching. For those interested in ironstone quarries, there is a fantastic 3 part look at what is left of the Woolsthorpe and Belvoir system. Not sure if this should go under "disused railways" but i figured it's right up the street of everyone here - lots of inspiration, maps and some colour photos I've not seen before.

 

We have quite a modelable system - main line locos running relatively short trains deep into ironstone country.

 

Part 1

 

http://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/recording-the-railway/railways-rediscovered/the-woolsthorpe-branch/

 

Part 2

 

http://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/recording-the-railway/railways-rediscovered/the-woolsthorpe-branch-rediscovered-part-2/

 

Part 3

 

http://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/recording-the-railway/railways-rediscovered/the-woolsthorpe-branch-rediscovered-part-3/

 

And although this covers the mainline operation, some good pictures (in colour) of the ore

 

http://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/railway-life-at-grantham/loco-department-staff/roy-vinter/the-ironstone-trains/

[caradoc]

Fascinating stuff down_under, thanks for posting the links.

[Norton961]

Excellent piece of work on an unknown branch ( to me ), hopefully people will post more photos.

 

David

[DaveF]

That is very interesting indeed. There's a lot more left to see than I had thought.  

 

It's a very long time since I lived in the area and I never did get round to taking many photos.  I spent most of time photographing the High Dyke branch and the lines connnected to it.

 

My photos of the line are at:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/sets/72157626274180803

 

There are also a few more of Belvoir Junction in my Grantham to Nottingham album at:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/albums/72157626279144040/page2

 

 

My  High Dyke and ironstone line photos, in 4 albums on flickr are at: 

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/sets/72157626274246892

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/sets/72157626169910951

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/sets/72157629665116290

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/sets/72157626420020389

 

Some of the photos show machinery, wagons etc and may be of some use.

 

 

David

Edited July 16, 2017 by DaveF

[Down_Under]

That's Dave for those links. I forgot to add in my original post that I think they compliment each other really well.

 

Cheers! J

[Osgood]

Great set of articles, thanks.

The 3rd photo of Part 1 clearly shows a 16T mineral labelled up as ORE TIPPLER.

 

EDIT:   Not so, it seems - see corrected info by others in post below!  

Edited July 17, 2017 by Osgood

[RANGERS]

Thanks for posting these, I've walked bits of the line over the years but the last visit was in 1987, I guess the vegetation has reclaimed quite a bit more of it in that time.

 

Great set of articles, thanks.

The 3rd photo of Part 1 clearly shows a 16T mineral labelled up as ORE TIPPLER.

 

Interesting! Although its not a 16t, the lettering shows 27t, it has heavier axle boxes than a std 16t and its an ex LMS wagon if the number's anything to go by, but no idea what it is. Anyone got any ideas?

[Adam]

Great set of articles, thanks.

 

The 3rd photo of Part 1 clearly shows a 16T mineral labelled up as ORE TIPPLER.

 

Not exactly. There's more details here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/65264-rtr-4mm-iron-ore-train-help/page-2&do=findComment&comment=2065972 to summarise, it's actually an LMS diagram 2153 - M622381 - note that the rating is 27 tons. There's another view here:  http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/lmsmineral/h5254eb6e#h5254eb6e

 

Adam

[Dava]

Really interesting to see the Woolsthorpe & Belvoir line guides and looking forward to some cycling trips along these and the Grantham canal, which I had in mind anyway for this summer.

 

Dava

[Down_Under]

Not exactly. There's more details here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/65264-rtr-4mm-iron-ore-train-help/page-2&do=findComment&comment=2065972 to summarise, it's actually an LMS diagram 2153 - M622381 - note that the rating is 27 tons. There's another view here: http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/lmsmineral/h5254eb6e#h5254eb6e

 

Adam

That makes that pretty rare photo - I think there are only a handlful of known photos of these wagons about

[Adam]

That makes that pretty rare photo - I think there are only a handlful of known photos of these wagons about

Well there weren't many of them, of course! What's good about this picture is that it clearly shows the large plate front axlebox demonstrating that, although the body looks like a 16 tonner, it clearly isn't. It's not quite clear what pattern of W iron is fitted, but the absence of a tiebar is obvious and, interestingly, it's apparent that the side door was not only operable, but in use. There's a large rust spot where the door hits the spring. Note that the door appears to be a replacement - it's a different, slightly shiny shade of grey - and that this seems to have been independent of the renewal of the side plating.

 

Adam

 

[EDIT - I may be wrong about the tiebar - be careful about low res pics on mobile phone screens! - but note also the heavy duty springs]

Edited July 18, 2017 by Adam

[rope runner]

Well there weren't many of them, of course! What's good about this picture is that it clearly shows the large plate front axlebox demonstrating that, although the body looks like a 16 tonner, it clearly isn't. It's not quite clear what pattern of W iron is fitted, but the absence of a tiebar is obvious and, interestingly, it's apparent that the side door was not only operable, but in use. There's a large rust spot where the door hits the spring. Note that the door appears to be a replacement - it's a different, slightly shiny shade of grey - and that this seems to have been independent of the renewal of the side plating.

 

Adam

I have a photo of an LMS diagram 2153 wagon number M622124 - this shows the lettering as 27 ton, but it does have a tie bar. It has also been latterly modified with roller bearings. I can send the photo via PM to anyone who wants it for modelling purposes, but can't post here due to copyright. 

 

Paul A. 

[Down_Under]

Looks th the 14th (ish) wagon the 3rd photo in this shot is also a LMS 27t Ore Wagon - looks like a top door in there ?

 

http://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/railway-life-at-grantham/loco-department-staff/roy-vinter/the-ironstone-trains/

 

And, is this a rare photo of the rubber tyre trucks being loaded with ironstone and shows the colour of the RB 150 well

 

http://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/grantham-railway-history/trains-and-traffic/private-industrial-sidings-in-the-grantham-area/aveling-barford-ltd/

 

 

destined for the tipper dock in one of Dave F's photos? Looks to be a similar truck - same rib pattern on the tray and insignia on the cab? And colour. Was Mears one of the companies that tied to use trucks to haul ore to the tipper docks?

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/7170760048/in/photolist-bVE28W-9rnmPs-bVE1Y3

[Adam]

Looks th the 14th (ish) wagon the 3rd photo in this shot is also a LMS 27t Ore Wagon - looks like a top door in there ?

 

http://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/railway-life-at-grantham/loco-department-staff/roy-vinter/the-ironstone-trains/

 

And, is this a rare photo of the rubber tyre trucks being loaded with ironstone and shows the colour of the RB 150 well

 

http://www.tracksthroughgrantham.uk/grantham-railway-history/trains-and-traffic/private-industrial-sidings-in-the-grantham-area/aveling-barford-ltd/

 

 

destined for the tipper dock in one of Dave F's photos? Looks to be a similar truck - same rib pattern on the tray and insignia on the cab? And colour. Was Mears one of the companies that tied to use trucks to haul ore to the tipper docks?

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidwf2009/7170760048/in/photolist-bVE28W-9rnmPs-bVE1Y3

 

The orange seems to be a standard Aveling Barford colour and the crest of the door, I think (but could be wrong) is simply a maker's badge.

Adam

[Fat Controller]

The orange seems to be a standard Aveling Barford colour and the crest of the door, I think (but could be wrong) is simply a maker's badge.

Adam

Looking at this photo, Adam, I think you could be right:-

http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p518755036/hd53f37a#h31b15902

Note that the radiator badge includes the 'Flying Horse', a relic of the origin of part of the company in Kent.

[Osgood]

Mears Brothers Mining was a company operating several opencast coal sites, probably around the Chesterfield area where they were based.  I don't think this view shows ironstone extraction.

[RANGERS]

Mears Brothers Mining was a company operating several opencast coal sites, probably around the Chesterfield area where they were based.  I don't think this view shows ironstone extraction.

I'd be tempted to agree, Mears weren't a name that came up in any of Tonks books, although contractors were used in some quarries and the only thing that bears much resemblance to what the 150's loading is ironstone.

[Osgood]

I'd be tempted to agree, Mears weren't a name that came up in any of Tonks books, although contractors were used in some quarries and the only thing that bears much resemblance to what the 150's loading is ironstone.

 

Rare for ironstone to be right at the surface by this date.  No sign of any overburden, and it looks as if the topsoil / subsoil is being taken with the dig - by this time it should have been stripped off separately pending restoration.  The mineral looks like a very dirty gravel deposit, although grading looks similar to the ironstone being tipped at the High Dyke tipping dock.

 

Pretty sure this is a Model SN35.  Nominal 30T capacity, and in practice a normal load of bulk ironstone would be around 27T - ideally matched to fill one tippler.

Other dumpers used were Euclid R15s (15T capacity).  A typical load would weigh 13-14T without greedy boards, so two dumpers would nicely fill a tippler.

[Osgood]

Almost forgot the R27 - an ideal spec truck as S&L no doubt appreciated!

 

 

[RANGERS]

Rare for ironstone to be right at the surface by this date.  No sign of any overburden, and it looks as if the topsoil / subsoil is being taken with the dig - by this time it should have been stripped off separately pending restoration.  The mineral looks like a very dirty gravel deposit, although grading looks similar to the ironstone being tipped at the High Dyke tipping dock.

 

Pretty sure this is a Model SN35.  Nominal 30T capacity, and in practice a normal load of bulk ironstone would be around 27T - ideally matched to fill one tippler.

Other dumpers used were Euclid R15s (15T capacity).  A typical load would weigh 13-14T without greedy boards, so two dumpers would nicely fill a tippler.

 

Generally ore mining by the 60s and 70s was all from deep based quarries, the deeper and more productive seams were mostly under a fair depth of limestone and clay overburden. As machines capable of stripping 60+ feet of overburden in one go became available, so it became cost effective to go deeper. Conversely though, the final two quarry faces to be opened up, at Harringworth Lodge and Glendon East, were both close to the surface. Harringworth provided the final load of ore to be mined in the UK for commercial steel production.