ChrisH-UK Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 Whilst researching a brake van I came across this photo on the RCTS website https://rcts.zenfolio.com/electric/br/locomotives/85/hA1053B13#ha1053b13 dated 5/2/90. The load in the first wagon caught my eye, when I zoom in it looks like 3 nosecone shapes in an OBA, if it were 20 years later I'd suspect 'spinners' for wind turbines but that's unlikely in 1990. Another thought is IIRC the 6V93 goes to Tavistock Jn, so something for Devonport? I'm clutching at straws though. Does anyone have any better info or suggestions? Chris H Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 Buoys? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted May 23, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 23, 2019 Emergency life raft casings? Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pb_devon Posted May 23, 2019 Share Posted May 23, 2019 They are dock blocks, i.e. the shaped pieces that go in a dry dock to support a ship’s hull. If the destination is Tavvy Jct then Devonport is most likely the ultimate destination. 1990 was the final year of MoD general freight to Devonport. 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonC Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 great information ... now thats me off looking for a better picture of them in case they're modellable! ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberDG Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 Hi Chris, I think they are actually in an OAA, but what a spot. I am continually surprised with what is out there. Gordon please keep us posted with any more detailed pictures. PB add that one to the rudder, sinkers and crane weights into the dockyards. cheers, John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberDG Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 Having looked at the picture again......what are the loads on the Warwells?? ....and wonder what is in the second OAA .....perhaps the loads are all connected to some work in the Devonport dry docks? Cheers, John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pb_devon Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 4 hours ago, AberDG said: Having looked at the picture again......what are the loads on the Warwells?? ....and wonder what is in the second OAA .....perhaps the loads are all connected to some work in the Devonport dry docks? Cheers, John Difficult to see clearly, but possibly more dock blocks laid on their side. A lot are required to support a ship, more than the few on the first wagon. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin_m Posted May 24, 2019 Share Posted May 24, 2019 1 hour ago, pb_devon said: Difficult to see clearly, but possibly more dock blocks laid on their side. A lot are required to support a ship, more than the few on the first wagon. Presumably they have to be in several sizes to allow for the curvature of the underside of the ship. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.snowdon Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 10 hours ago, Edwin_m said: Presumably they have to be in several sizes to allow for the curvature of the underside of the ship. For ships, the docking blocks are normally flat and placed under the keel in a line from one end to the other, located under specific frames (the transverse elements of the ship's structure). These support the weight of the ship, and it is kept upright by the lateral shores between the hull and the sides of the dock. If the ship is wide enough, there will an additional line of blocks under the flat bottom of the hull on either side, in which case the lateral shores are not needed. Jim 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pb_devon Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 12 hours ago, jim.snowdon said: For ships, the docking blocks are normally flat and placed under the keel in a line from one end to the other, located under specific frames (the transverse elements of the ship's structure). These support the weight of the ship, and it is kept upright by the lateral shores between the hull and the sides of the dock. If the ship is wide enough, there will an additional line of blocks under the flat bottom of the hull on either side, in which case the lateral shores are not needed. Jim Ahh, but some RN ‘ships’ (the sinking types) don’t have keels like the floaty ones!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.snowdon Posted May 25, 2019 Share Posted May 25, 2019 10 minutes ago, pb_devon said: Ahh, but some RN ‘ships’ (the sinking types) don’t have keels like the floaty ones!! Good point. I shall have to enquiry of my neighbour, who started as a shipwright and finished as a senior engineer in HM Dockyards. Jim 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisH-UK Posted May 26, 2019 Author Share Posted May 26, 2019 Tried searching for dock blocks, keel blocks or bilge blocks and including other terms, but nothing useful appeared. However "Devonport submarine" yielded the following https://www.neimagazine.com/features/featurehow-babcock-plans-to-decommission-uk-nuclear-submarines-4177541//featurehow-babcock-plans-to-decommission-uk-nuclear-submarines-4177541-450342.html The shapes under the front and middle of the sub do have some resemblance to the shapes on the first wagon in the freight train photo, could the structures under the rear of the sub be the parts on the warwells? 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pb_devon Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 (edited) Those that are able should refer to page 138 in Paul Burkhalter’s book Devonport Dockyard Railway, now sadly OOP. There is a picture of an internal bogie tube wagon in Devonport Dockyard carrying dock blocks very similar to the RCTS image at Carlisle. Edited May 27, 2019 by pb_devon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberDG Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 Ok a bit of topic, but I will be up at the Great Central Exhibition this weekend (14-16 June) with my layout Devonport Road. This has a number of unusual loads heading into Devonport Dockyard, including the huge UCTP wagon. Hopefully see a few of you up there and we can discuss unusual loads. Shame we never got a definitive picture of the load on the OAA and Warwells. See you there. Cheers, John 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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