Axlebox Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 Folks A quick question around dates... Dogfish were built to diagram 587 however some 221 were converted to diagram 588 by adding a 9" steel strip around the top...this conversion appears to have been done for the NE region who were still using slag ballast. As the slag was lighter than stone ballast the volume was increased by adding 'greedy boards*' round the top. The good Mr Bartlett has many and various examples of both here... https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brdogfish The question is, when did the conversions take place? Also, some Trout were similarly treated, again thanks to Mr Bartlett we can compare the 2... https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/troutzfo Any suggestions gratefully received Duncan * the term 'greedy boards' dates back to chauldron wagons with an extra board added to increase capacity. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 In a past version of RMweb I've quoted an article from the British Railways Magazine from the time of conversions, reporting it came from a member of staff's suggestion, however I'm obviously not using the right search terms and can't find it. I'm sure I have a scan of it, but on a PC I won't see again until Wednesday. Jon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium alexross42 Posted April 13, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 13, 2021 (edited) These conversions are mentioned in a two-page spread in the recent 'bookazine' "Modelling British Railways Engineers' Wagons" (pages 48-49) - it states that 'the 1950s and early 1960s saw three different types of hopper wagon receive modifications for use on the workings, this involving adding nine-inch high steel plate sections...." It goes on to add that first were the Trouts (about 56 of them), followed by over 420 Dogfish. So maybe mid to late 1950s would be a good guess for the Dogfish, given that there were so many of them? Hope that helps, Ross. Edited April 13, 2021 by alexross42 fact correction 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HGR Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 The date I have noted down, though I can't remember where I got the information from originally, is 1962 for a batch of ex. LNER TROUT that were converted at Santon. This was the location where the slag from the blast furnace at Scunthorpe steelworks was dumped. The TROUT were given a new diagram E 231. The DOGFISH were converted next, becoming diagram 1/588. Not sure if these were taken from the batch that were already allocated to Santon Slag Heap, or the selection was a bit more diverse. Also, there was a batch of 24T IRON ORE hoppers converted in a similar way, but the hopper extension was not as high (6" ?). These were ex. P.O. hoppers. Quite remarkably one was skulking around on the Isle of Wight ages later, and its claim to fame was it became the last ex.P.O. 'P' series wagon running on B.R. These conversions were a bit weird in having a footboard step on the side of the wagon to allow access to the chute handwheel that was half-way along the wagon in between the solebar and the hopper body. Don't recall seeing a diagram for these. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 8 hours ago, alexross42 said: These conversions are mentioned in a two-page spread in the recent 'bookazine' "Modelling British Railways Engineers' Wagons" (pages 48-49) - it states that 'the 1950s and early 1960s saw three different types of hopper wagon receive modifications for use on the workings, this involving adding nine-inch high steel plate sections...." It goes on to add that first were the Trouts (about 56 of them), followed by over 420 Dogfish. So maybe mid to late 1950s would be a good guess for the Dogfish, given that there were so many of them? Hope that helps, Ross. Dogfish weren't introduced until 1956 and some of the 1961 batch had greedy boards, so 1962 is a suitable commencement date. They were also apparently random. Paul https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brdogfish 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 This is the article from British Railways London Midland Magazine July 1962, So it started before that, but was obviously still new enough to be worth reporting. Jon 1 2 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axlebox Posted April 16, 2021 Author Share Posted April 16, 2021 Thanks Jon, and thanks to everyone who replied to my original question. Duncan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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