Jump to content
 

Heljan 7mm Wagons


Kev_Lewis
 Share

Recommended Posts

I've just been looking on the Tower Models website and I see that they've updated the Heljan section of their site. They now have individual sections for Heljan loco's and coaches. But there's a third section:

 

Heljan Wagons **NEW Section coming 7th September **

 

 

I'm sure we'll find out what's happening at Telford this weekend, but being rather curious I was wondering if anyone on here has any inkling what's coming?

Link to post
Share on other sites

There's plenty of photos here:

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/essobtankwagonvb

and here:

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/cegbtankwagon

 

The first 3 prototype wagons were built around 1957, by Charles Roberts and the design proved so successful that eventually several hundred were built by other builders as well. There are subtle detail differences between the ones produced by different builders. They were operated by Esso and Regent (later Texaco), amongst others, but I'm not sure when they came out of use.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

There's plenty of photos here:

http://paulbartlett....ssobtankwagonvb

and here:

http://paulbartlett....m/cegbtankwagon

 

The first 3 prototype wagons were built around 1957, by Charles Roberts and the design proved so successful that eventually several hundred were built by other builders as well. There are subtle detail differences between the ones produced by different builders. They were operated by Esso and Regent (later Texaco), amongst others, but I'm not sure when they came out of use.

The original operators had gone over to either 45t 'Monobloc' tankers or 100t bogie ones by the late 1960s. However, the older tanks would last quite a bit longer with smaller operators, and for specialised traffics. These included:-

' United Molasses' (http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/unitedmolasses),

Fisons (http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/fisonsammonia)

W H Davies (http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/p498747192) - though PB suggests these wagons weren't used in traffic, I saw a rake on the Avonside branch in Bristol in 1974 or 1975.

The oil majors retained some tanks for use in heavy fuel oil and bitumen traffic:-

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/essobitumenvb

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/essobitumenrebuilt

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/essobitumentsa

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/texaco

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/cegbtankwagon

The chassis from 150 or so wagons were used for MTV stone wagons in the mid-1970s

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Interesting - as I too was trying to recall their use to see if I could justify one on my layout? - looks as though they were mainly on the Western Region by the 1980's - from the photos + the odd photo at Tinsley? Any more detail would be interesting as to workings.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 8 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...

The van looks good.  It might just be the angle of the photo of the open, but it looks like the doors and the solebar are flush, where they should be slightly proud.  It's hard to tell on an undecorated sample.

Link to post
Share on other sites

The tank wagon generally looks very good but I can't see if there are the steam line fittings which should be on the right-hand end of the tank in the first pic (I am comparing it with a picture of a 1957 Esso tank in Touret). I also notice the rather obvious joins between the sections of the tank. 

Edited by HSB
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...