RMweb Gold ian Posted April 17, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 17, 2015 Whilst looking at an early 1970's working timetable I came across some trains designated RWS (Registered Wagon Service). It isn't a term that I have come across before and Google has been particularly unhelpful in enlightening me so chaps, what was a registered wagon service? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 I am not sure I remember the designation from my BR days, but then I forget a lot of things now! I wonder if it was a service that was particularly closely monitored, or had guaranteed connections. I remember consignments of explosives were meant to pass on specific services, and make booked connections details of which were sent out by 'wire' each weekday to relevant offices and yards. These consignments often passed from Royal Ordnance Factory locations or MOD depots cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted April 17, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 17, 2015 I've never seen it in a WTT but there was indeed a registered freight service at one time and it was called Green Arrow. Basically it meant it was monitored throughout its journey - presumably by yard-to-yard wires (telegrams) as there was a telegraphic code word (STRAN) for such traffic. The LNER ran trains under the Green Arrow name and even named an engine after it (a V2) in order to promote the service. I suspect that by identifying particular services for registered (Green arrow) freight traffic it simplified keeping an eye on it and in any case it was supposed to be 'dealt with expeditiously' so such trains would undoubtedly have been given priority over other freight services. Incidentally in BR days the wagon labels on wagons conveying such traffic had a small green arrow symbol pasted onto them and I belief there were also pre-printed labels with the green arrow on them, it's nearly 50 years since I last saw one! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamperman36 Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Would it have been a service containing wagons conveying high value goods or dangerous goods which had to be monitered through out there journey. Posibly things like gold bullion, explosives, anhydrousamonia, nuclear flasks? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium nightstar.train Posted April 18, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 18, 2015 Could it be for bonded goods, such as spirits and tobacco that the duty hasn't been paid on? Do you know where the trains were going to/from? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ian Posted April 18, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2015 Thanks for the comments so far. A bit of information that may help/jog memories: It is the 1971/1972 London Midland Birmingham Region (Section D) timetable for mandatory train services. Some examples are: 7J36 05:12 RWS Bescot to Croes Newyd 9G60 16:00 RWS Washwood Heath - Bescot 7G31 17:35 RWS Banbury to Bescot 6A82 23:26 RWS Merchandise Bescot to Willesden 7G23 15:59 RWS Workington - Besot I think that the idea that they can carry special cargo like gunpowder vans is the most likely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted April 18, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2015 Would it have been a service containing wagons conveying high value goods or dangerous goods which had to be monitered through out there journey. Posibly things like gold bullion, explosives, anhydrousamonia, nuclear flasks? Could it be for bonded goods, such as spirits and tobacco that the duty hasn't been paid on? Do you know where the trains were going to/from? I never heard of Green Arrow being used for Dangerous Goods of any sort - definitely not used for nuclear flasks (they were/are subject to their own arrangements and Instructions), gold bullion normally went as Passenger Rated traffic (although there was also a registration system for passenger rated traffic but bullion was conveyed in specialised vehicles under special arrangements), when the Mint moved to South Wales some of the new decimal coinage was sent as freight traffic (in containers rather like small oil drums!). Vulnerable Traffic such as spirits and tobacco were strong contenders for registration of course (although the contents wouldn't be declared to all intermediate yards for obvious reasons) and on the Western such traffic always passed on nominated services so those who were (officially) interested always knew where it should be. But that apart you could effectively send any sort of ordinary goods traffic using Green Arrow - provided you were prepared to pay the extra for the service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ian Posted April 18, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 18, 2015 Yes, Green Arrow was, as I recall, a premium service introduced by the LNER for overnight wagonload traffic back in the days when freight trains were slow and shunted frequently en-route. It was suspended during WWII and reintroduced by BR in the 1950s and extended to other parts of the network. As Stationmaster says nuclear flasks and bullion had their own special arrangements but gunpowder and similar could be carried in normal traffic but needed closer monitoring than cans of soup or scrap iron. The merchandise tag on 6A82 idicates that it carried normal freight so again it looks like they were trains that could carry special,but not 'sensitive' cargoes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointstaken Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Urgently needed supplies for the loco shed canteen/tea urn ? Dennis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 Whilst looking at an early 1970's working timetable I came across some trains designated RWS (Registered Wagon Service). It isn't a term that I have come across before and Google has been particularly unhelpful in enlightening me so chaps, what was a registered wagon service? Ian, I agree that t'interweb does have virtually nothing for RWS Registered Wagon Services, but I did find a photo on Flickr of 8G80 a service that the caption described as being a RWS service. I posted a comment which has resulted in a more detailed decription, it seems that NCL traffic was one of the main customers whose traffic was monitored. https://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_hoare/5288516503/ cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
br2975 Posted April 22, 2015 Share Posted April 22, 2015 ............................... when the Mint moved to South Wales some of the new decimal coinage was sent as freight traffic (in containers rather like small oil drums!). . Now, thereby hang a few tales - including the 'second' Great Train Robbery. . Brian R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ian Posted April 22, 2015 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted April 22, 2015 Ian, I agree that t'interweb does have virtually nothing for RWS Registered Wagon Services, but I did find a photo on Flickr of 8G80 a service that the caption described as being a RWS service. I posted a comment which has resulted in a more detailed decription, it seems that NCL traffic was one of the main customers whose traffic was monitored. https://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_hoare/5288516503/ cheers Brilliant - the comments do indeed shed light on this murky area. As surmised they were for monitored cargo - valuable/dangerous/time sensitive but not so valuable/dangerous/time sensitive as to get their own service. The comments also indicated that they were short lived, morphing into ABN (air braked network) and then Speedlink. Thanks to all who have helped. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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