Penlan Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 On one of my Facebook groups - Social - this photo has been posted by a local.I don't have much in the way of Cornish books to hand, but I don't recall seeing this photo before. The lettering appears to be in Biro, thus recent. If I have infringed somebody's Copyright, my apologies, but the Local has not replied to my private messages seeking clarification of the origin of the photo. However what I did find interesting is the break lever arrangement of the left hand wagon, presumably the lever catch is bent, and the, presumably, top end of the 'W' iron fixing to the outside of the solebar on the other wagon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike morley Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 A close look suggests that the brake lever is a rod, rather than being made from the more familiar flat bar. And is that another rod hanging from near its end? And look how thin the rim on that wheel is! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penlan Posted October 7, 2015 Author Share Posted October 7, 2015 Mike, I have some (long ago) PC Models P4 wheels that have rims like that.... Great for photo shoots but hopeless on EM track. Of course the 'W' iron's would, or should be, for Broad Gauge..... this being the last line to be built new as BG. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted October 7, 2015 Share Posted October 7, 2015 I forwarded the link to this topic to the Broad Gauge Society eGroup, and there have been a couple of comments so far.The photo was taken when the line was under construction, so they may well be contractor's wagons. It's not clear if they're broad or standard gauge. Are the men in the photo navvies? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigermoth Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Very interesting photo there are two wagons one is behind the men but i wondered if anyone had noticed the track under the wagon, not only does it look like mixed gauge but the furthest wagon wheel looks to be on the furthest rail ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Kris Posted October 10, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 10, 2015 Could be a set of points that the wagon is sat on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigermoth Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Yes it could be points but that would mean one rail is missing, not only that but there is a joint....i think this could well be about laying the standard gauge rail or something to do with that operation.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porcy Mane Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 The writing in Biro seems to be emphasising chalk markings on the baulks? P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mikkel Posted October 24, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 24, 2015 It really is an intriguing photo. I've looked through the GW wagons bible and have found nothing that looks like the wagons in the photo. I might have missed somehting of course, but I think as has been suggested that they must be particular for the job. There isn't any visible "To carry" lettering, which might add to the theory that these are not ordinary running wagons. It could be hidden behind the gang of course, although at that time it was usually written at the left end. The St Ives line was approved by parliament in 1873, and opened in 1877. The third rail was laid in 1888, so if the date is correct it's not to do with laying the extra rail. The small GWR lettering on the left hand side of wagons wasn't changed to the right hand side until 1894, so that doesn't help determine the date. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mikkel Posted October 24, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 24, 2015 It now dawns upon me that July 7 1873 seems to be the date the St Ives Railway was approved in parliament. Sorry if everyone else had already caught on to that. Source: http://www.forgottenbooks.com/readbook_text/Bibliotheca_Cornubiensis_1000398242/19 So unless the wagons and track were already in place on that day, we can't really use the written date in the photo to determine the time of the scene. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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