Wenlock's Blog

Nice.

 

I'm glad it wasn't pitprops - Sherton Abbas doesn't strike me as coal mining territory...

 

Reminiscent of a photo in Atkins. I can't remember - were you pointed in the direction of the BR instructions (courtesy of the Barrowmore Model Railway Group)? These are much the same as LNWR instructions reproduced in LNWR Wagons, so are certainly a guide to pre-grouping practice. As far as I can see, your load complies with the rules - at a rough estimate, there's a bit over 3 tons of timber there, assuming spruce with a density of approximately 450 kg/m3 (2 stone/cubic foot), which is comfortably within the limit. 

 

There's a photo of Vastern Yard, Reading, c. 1905 in which seven or eight wagons laden with timber overhanging the end are visible. All these wagons are sheeted, with just the projecting end of the load sticking out from under the sheet.

2 hours ago, Miss Prism said:

 

 

I'm glad it wasn't pitprops - Sherton Abbas doesn't strike me as coal mining territory...

 

Quite right! Bucolic and rural is the order of the day

Very well modelled, that looks spot on.

 

1 hour ago, Compound2632 said:

Reminiscent of a photo in Atkins. I can't remember - were you pointed in the direction of the BR instructions (courtesy of the Barrowmore Model Railway Group)? These are much the same as LNWR instructions reproduced in LNWR Wagons, so are certainly a guide to pre-grouping practice. As far as I can see, your load complies with the rules - at a rough estimate, there's a bit over 3 tons of timber there, assuming spruce with a density of approximately 450 kg/m3 (2 stone/cubic foot), which is comfortably within the limit. 

 

Thanks for the copy of the BR instructions, I shall peruse those later on tonight. I’m glad my load conforms to the rules, I based it on a picture that Richard sent me. 
 

1 hour ago, Compound2632 said:

 

There's a photo of Vastern Yard, Reading, c. 1905 in which seven or eight wagons laden with timber overhanging the end are visible. All these wagons are sheeted, with just the projecting end of the load sticking out from under the sheet.

I really must get on and do some sheeted wagons!

Those deals (and the scale rope) look the part! Very nice model altogether.

Kit PW

4 hours ago, Miss Prism said:

Nice.

 

I'm glad it wasn't pitprops - Sherton Abbas doesn't strike me as coal mining territory...

 

 

2 hours ago, wenlock said:

Quite right! Bucolic and rural is the order of the day

Would have been outbound traffic, though. No collieries required..,

S.A.W. ....... Sherton Abbas Woodmill has been busy Dave !

Very nice indeed, finishes the wagon off really well. Can't wait to see it in the flesh in a couple of weeks time at Basingstoke show.

15 minutes ago, Chrisbr said:

 Can't wait to see it in the flesh in a couple of weeks time at Basingstoke show.

Will he?  Won't he?

 

"sort the door banger plates of course"!

 

Now the interesting thought is this...  if the wagon is bringing timber in then how is it unloaded...  if the wagon is taking timber out then how is the load roped securely before transit?  Clever chaps these modellers of old Dorset railways.

1 minute ago, Western Star said:

Now the interesting thought is this...  if the wagon is bringing timber in then how is it unloaded...  if the wagon is taking timber out then how is the load roped securely before transit?  Clever chaps these modellers of old Dorset railways.

 

Somebody misread the ticket. It's been sent up the branch in error and has to go back to be sent on to Sherton Episcopi.

There are three photos in Chris Handley's 'Maritime Activities of the S&DJR showing wagon loads of timber in apparently random lengths in sidings on Highbridge wharf in 1924 or thereabouts.. They seem to be stacked much higher than the model above and with greater overhang. The planks also seem to be of smaller cross-section. Highbridge wharf had considerable timber imports from Scandinavia and a large timber yard owned by John Bland Timber Merchants. The wagons could, I suppose, be being used for internal transfers as Bland's was on the far side of the wharf, away from the ships' berths, although I seem to remember seeing that 'deal porters' were used to transfer the planks manually across the wharf. This was the method used in London's Surrey Docks, as can be seen in this commemorative sculpture. http://www.ipernity.com/doc/philsutters/25874997

Edited March 8 by phil_sutters

29 minutes ago, phil_sutters said:

They seem to be stacked much higher than the model above and with greater overhang. 

 

Those instructions give a maximum overhang of 8 ft, by which point a runner wagon had of course become necessary, at least for the trailing wagon in the group (the overhang should be at the trailing end if possible). The permitted load is de-rated as a function of the overhang, as the weight distribution is asymmetrical.

Well, building timbers. 

 

Ok, I accept its the other end of the country, but look how Victorian and Edwardian buildings were put together. Down to my right is a Bressumer beam across the bay , 11" x 12 " , 16 feet long.  Notched for joists , 11' x 3 " at 13 inch centres , the longest 25 foot long . 

 

Um, so in this tenement, 8 Bressumers, and 480 ish joists . All that timber needed to come from ports to the cities and towns that were being built during that period.

 

I have a feeling that far more came in by rail than was ever photographed. Why ? Well, its a wagon full of wood. Again. 

 

So I think that is a highly realistic wagon load. There must have been thousands like it in the great expansion of cities but they have never been recorded.

 

Just a bit of late night lateral thinking. 

 

 

Very nice Dave!

 

14 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

There's a photo of Vastern Yard, Reading, c. 1905 in which seven or eight wagons laden with timber overhanging the end are visible. All these wagons are sheeted, with just the projecting end of the load sticking out from under the sheet.

 

See PM.

"Bressummer Beams" - well, that was a very interesting 20 minute diversion and if I understand correctly then every 15th/16th century wood building with a cantilever floor had examples of those beams adding up to considerable volumes of heavy stuff (heavy as in significant cross-section).

 

Dave - a pair of Barry Mites might be in order here...  or possibly something from Bland's timber stack carried on a pair of S&DJR single bolsters.

 

regards, Graham

12 hours ago, Western Star said:

Will he?  Won't he?

 

"sort the door banger plates of course"!

Probably not

 

12 hours ago, Western Star said:

 

Now the interesting thought is this...  if the wagon is bringing timber in then how is it unloaded... 

One plank at at a time!

 

12 hours ago, Western Star said:

Now the interesting thought is this...    if the wagon is taking timber out then how is the load roped securely before transit?  

With one reef and two granny knots

 

13 hours ago, Western Star said:

Clever chaps these modellers of old Dorset railways.

We aim to please!

Very nice Dave - at least to look at !!!!

.

Having once unloaded a lorry load  of 9"x 3", I can safely say I don't envy the goods porter at Sherton Abbas !

.

Regards, and keep up the good work

.

Brian R

13 minutes ago, br2975 said:

Very nice Dave - at least to look at !!!!

.

Having once unloaded a lorry load  of 9"x 3", I can safely say I don't envy the goods porter at Sherton Abbas !

.

Regards, and keep up the good work

.

Brian R

Thanks Brian  The goods porter will definitely have earned a cup of tea after shifting that lot!

Just a bit concerned that the lower end of the planks doesn't appear to have any rope to prevent said planks jumping out if the wagon hits/is subject to a bump.

 

Otherwise, excellent. 

2 minutes ago, Stubby47 said:

 if the wagon hits/is subject to a bump 

 

My good man, the GWR does not do bumps. 

4 minutes ago, Stubby47 said:

Just a bit concerned that the lower end of the planks doesn't appear to have any rope to prevent said planks jumping out if the wagon hits/is subject to a bump.

 

It would have to be a very severe bump to raise a ton or so of timber a foot or so into the air. Roping is in accordance with the instructions. What one might have to worry about is a rough shunt - the force of the lower end of the planks on the end stanchions of the wagon might be an issue. The instructions state that end door wagons can be loaded this way but the lower end of the planks must be at the fixed end of the wagon - the strain on the end door catches in a rough shunt would certainly be too great. 

Warm glow from the back row. 

15 hours ago, Dave John said:

Well, building timbers. 

 

Ok, I accept its the other end of the country, but look how Victorian and Edwardian buildings were put together. Down to my right is a Bressumer beam across the bay , 11" x 12 " , 16 feet long.  Notched for joists , 11' x 3 " at 13 inch centres , the longest 25 foot long . 

 

Um, so in this tenement, 8 Bressumers, and 480 ish joists . All that timber needed to come from ports to the cities and towns that were being built during that period.

 

I have a feeling that far more came in by rail than was ever photographed. Why ? Well, its a wagon full of wood. Again. 

 

So I think that is a highly realistic wagon load. There must have been thousands like it in the great expansion of cities but they have never been recorded.

 

Just a bit of late night lateral thinking. 

 

 

1000s, yes. Roll up, roll up! A scale 11” x 12” x 16’ is easily doable...!  

39 minutes ago, Mikkel said:

 

My good man, the GWR does not do bumps. 

The wagon might have wandered onto lesser railway networks...