xm607 Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 Hi, I have an old track cleaner wagon by Wills its an old whitemetal kit which is built up, apparently it was based upon a real cleaner based at Folkestone harbour, does anyone have any details of the lettering this vehicle carried or photos, a long shot I know. Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted August 13, 2017 Share Posted August 13, 2017 I think there's a photo in the SECR volume of the SR wagons books. I'll check and report back. IIRC it was converted from an SECR ballast wagon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 There were at least two of them with detail differences. The one more like Wills wagon was no. 631S and the photograph shows it at Ashford about 1948. It is lettered 'SR' with the letters to the left of the two central hinges. The text states it was lettered 'Rail Cleaning Wagon' on the solebar (between the doorstops) and was based at Earlswood on the Brighton Section. Formerly SECR no. 2638 and 62143 after the grouping, and entered departmental service in 1932. Only the S R is clearly legible, but the number can just be seen between the LH hinge and the door protection strip. It should be red oxide not brown as a departmental wagon and has short parallel buffers on wooden blocks and Mansell wooden disc wheels of 3' diameter. These are not available AFAIK, but plain disc should do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 ...and Mansell wooden disc wheels of 3' diameter. These are not available AFAIK, but plain disc should do. The rather good for its day MGW range provided these. I buy these s/h when I spot them, can still be found in good model shops under assembled kits on the s/h shelf... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Holliday Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 The real thing was a conversion from an SER ballast wagon, possibly originally dumb buffered. It was actually allocated to Feltham yard, and was a Brush Truck, for sweeping snow off the rails, to maintain track circuiting. According to Southern Wagons Volume 3 it was converted to a brush wagon in March 1913 and withdrawn in July 1936. The photo in Vol 3, and a clearer one in Kidner's Service Stock of the Southern Railway, shows it in SR livery, with its number 226S at the left hand end, and, in italic script, the legend "Signal & Telegraph Dept Brush Truck Feltham" on two lines to the right end. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted August 14, 2017 Share Posted August 14, 2017 (edited) The real thing was a conversion from an SER ballast wagon, possibly originally dumb buffered. It was actually allocated to Feltham yard, and was a Brush Truck, for sweeping snow off the rails, to maintain track circuiting. According to Southern Wagons Volume 3 it was converted to a brush wagon in March 1913 and withdrawn in July 1936. The photo in Vol 3, and a clearer one in Kidner's Service Stock of the Southern Railway, shows it in SR livery, with its number 226S at the left hand end, and, in italic script, the legend "Signal & Telegraph Dept Brush Truck Feltham" on two lines to the right end. This is the other wagon I referred to. It differs from the other wagon and the Wills kit* in the brake lever, unless they are different on the two sides, which could well be the case as the rail cleaning brushes get in the way, though the drawing would suggest otherwise. I don't have access to my examples of the Wills wagon to compare at the moment. My copy of volume 3 states it was SECR no.4298 and reconstructed in 1913. (This presumably means conversion from dumb buffers to spring.) Subsequently, at first SR ballast wagon no.62175 and then converted in late 1925 to Feltham Yard brush wagon 226S. The photograph is dated 1934 and withdrawal date is given as July 1936. Both wagons have Mansell wheels and self contained buffers (logical fittings for a wagon converted from dumb buffers). There's no mention of a Folkestone Harbour wagon, but I seem to recall hearing of one. * It was available at first as a kit (I acquired mine ready built in SECR livery as a merchandise wagon) and later as an assembled version sold by Wills as an operating track cleaner using cigarette filters as the brushes and intended to be filled with some solvent. Possibly carbon Tetrachloride which was in common use use at the time, but nowadays we prefer something less toxic. (I also have one of these in plain grey as supplied.) Unfortunately MGW wheels are rare these days. I have some bought new back in the day (early seventies), but haven't seen any others for years. Production ceased in the late seventies/early eighties? There's no mention of a Folkestone Harbour wagon, but I seem to recall hearing of one. Edited August 14, 2017 by Il Grifone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xm607 Posted August 14, 2017 Author Share Posted August 14, 2017 Many thanks guys, at least it can now be coloured and lettered up. Regards, Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xm607 Posted August 19, 2017 Author Share Posted August 19, 2017 Just to complete this tail, here are the finished wagons one in SR and a hypothetical BR liveried one with the gel pen used for the additional lettering, again many thanks. Steve. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted August 20, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 20, 2017 Just to complete this tail, here are the finished wagons one in SR and a hypothetical BR liveried one with the gel pen used for the additional lettering, again many thanks. Steve. DSCN3890.JPG Nice angel. Now that's not something I thought I'd be saying today! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbowilts Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 A quick quetion, Steve, if I may whats the origin/make of the gel pen you used? TIA, Tim T Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xm607 Posted August 21, 2017 Author Share Posted August 21, 2017 A quick quetion, Steve, if I may whats the origin/make of the gel pen you used? TIA, Tim T Hi, its a Pentel Hybrid Gel Marker 0.8mm Tip White Ref K118L-LW Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 (edited) I've just ordered a white gel pen from the Far East on eBay. It only cost £1.13 so not a great loss if it turns out to be rubbish. Time will tell when it finally arrives - estimated delivery up to 12th October.... Edited August 22, 2017 by Il Grifone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Grifone Posted August 25, 2017 Share Posted August 25, 2017 (edited) I've just ordered a white gel pen from the Far East on eBay. It only cost £1.13 so not a great loss if it turns out to be rubbish. Time will tell when it finally arrives - estimated delivery up to 12th October.... It arrived today! First trials seem 100% positive. it was only ordered on the 13th of August so the delivery was quite rapid. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/0-8mm-Photo-Album-White-Ink-Color-Gel-Pen-Hand-Painting-Mark-Pen-Stationery/391537209866?_trkparms=ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140212121249%26meid%3D096bcc0a777f4cfdaa5c145a7769b3c5%26pid%3D100102%26&_trksid=p3693.c100102.m2452 I've found details, a photo and a drawing of the track cleaning wagon, but I can't post them here for copyright reasons - MRC September 1951. The article states Folkestone Harbour and the number is 631S, livery red oxide body solebars and buffer stocks, 3' 6" mansell wheels and clasp brakes Edited August 25, 2017 by Il Grifone Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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