Hornby announce the SR Cattle wagon

[Garethp8873]

The BBC has recently been filming sheep being loaded onto a wagon for "Victorian Railways". The Swanage Railway does not have any cattle wagons now but there used to be cattle docks at Swanage and Corfe Castle stations the latter has recently been rebuilt. I have not got any pictures of cattle wagons on the branch but I have heard that the cattle wagons were coupled next to the engine to give the cattle a smooth ride although they would have got a lot of smoke. I am looking forward to buying some Hornby Southern cattle wagons for my railway.

The Swanage Railway recently rebuilt a LMS Goods Van as a Maunsell Cattle wagon. Whilst the brakegear don't represent the prototypes, it's nice to see a preserved railway representing a traffic that is now long gone.

 

In general Cattle wagons were always placed next to the train so to prevent any stress to the livestock whilst the train was moving.

[Wickham Green]

The Swanage Railway recently rebuilt a LMS Goods Van as a Maunsell Cattle wagon. Whilst the brakegear don't represent the prototypes, it's nice to see a preserved railway representing a traffic that is now long gone.

 

In general Cattle wagons were always placed next to the train so to prevent any stress to the livestock whilst the train was moving.

I think you're confusing yourself with the Mad-Hints rebuild you referred to earlier .......... yes, not very accurate as they left it at 17'6'' long ( Now why does that remind me of a certain family of model cattle wagons with L.M.S. pedigree ? )

Oddly, I've never found any note in the General Appendices about coupling loaded cattle wagons at the head of the train - but it was certainly common ........... cattle wagons did appear further back at times - but were they loaded ? probably not.

[Garethp8873]

I think you're confusing yourself with the Mad-Hints rebuild you referred to earlier .......... yes, not very accurate as they left it at 17'6'' long ( Now why does that remind me of a certain family of model cattle wagons with L.M.S. pedigree ? )

Oddly, I've never found any note in the General Appendices about coupling loaded cattle wagons at the head of the train - but it was certainly common ........... cattle wagons did appear further back at times - but were they loaded ? probably not.

 

Yes that's right my bad...!! Whilst not 100% accurate, it's still good to see Mid Hants have made a good attempt at bringing back a Maunsell version of the SR Cattle wagon despite it not being as long as the original prototypes. It's also good to know that we've also got a preserved SR/BR Bullied version (B891364) at Mangapps which I've yet to see.

 

I've always been told by fellow modellers that loaded cattle wagons were always at the front of the goods to reduce stress to the livestock. If empty then the wagon could go anywhere in the rake.

[Dunsignalling]

As I understand it, loaded cattle wagons were marshalled at the front of trains because that's where the amount of coupling snatch is at its lowest, giving the smoothest ride and minimising any stress to the animals.

 

It had the added advantage that any wagons needing to be detached en-route could be shunted using the train engine with a minimum of fuss.

 

John

[Wickham Green]

As I understand it, loaded cattle wagons were marshalled at the front of trains because that's where the amount of coupling snatch is at its lowest, giving the smoothest ride and minimising any stress to the animals.

 

It had the added advantage that any wagons needing to be detached en-route could be shunted using the train engine with a minimum of fuss.

 

John

...... and, of course, cattle DID have to be detached e-route as they had to be offloaded and watered at prescribed intervals ..... without the Appendices in front of me I'm not sure whether feeding was necessary - nor mucking-out ! ( I suspect the latter was left 'til final destination.)

[hmrspaul]

...... and, of course, cattle DID have to be detached e-route as they had to be offloaded and watered at prescribed intervals ..... without the Appendices in front of me I'm not sure whether feeding was necessary - nor mucking-out ! ( I suspect the latter was left 'til final destination.)

There were separate booklets on what livestock required, and very complex. One requirement was to shunt a loaded cattle wagon as minimally as possible.

 

Paul

[Garethp8873]

Tooling for the new SR Cattle wagons has been unveiled in today's Engine Shed blog..!!

 

http://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/news/the-engine-shed/how-to-transport-your-coke-and-cattle/

[TheSignalEngineer]

... cattle wagons did appear further back at times - but were they loaded ? probably not.

Possibly yes, broccoli or beer were often loaded on them as cattle traffic declined

[Ozexpatriate]

I'm very pleased with the descriptions of these models detailing the differences an so on. I'm sure that Graham had a lot to do with that in terms of helping the Hornby design team.

 

I remain a bit bewildered regarding the choice to produce the later (1947) wagons in an SR livery and the earlier wagons in a BR livery. I would have thought doing it the other way around or mixing things up a bit - given that four different items will be offered would have maximized initial return on this tooling.

 

I look forward to the earlier design appearing in an SR livery, though I'll probably get at least one of the 1947 design, just because.

[Islesy]

I'm very pleased with the descriptions of these models detailing the differences an so on. I'm sure that Graham had a lot to do with that in terms of helping the Hornby design team.

Not on this occasion - It was a combination of picking Mike King's brains and the hard yards going through the Southern C&W drawings at the NRM for the Cattle Vans. I'm lucky that I can count on the support and knowledge of a number of specialised experts.

[Adams442T]

Possibly yes, broccoli or beer were often loaded on them as cattle traffic declined

 

Broccoli and Beer, that's a fearsome combination!  

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

Possibly yes, broccoli or beer were often loaded on them as cattle traffic declined

 This was a traffic that for obvious reasons was better served by road transport for all but the longest journeys, and was practically over by the end of the big four period. The severe reduction in large animal husbandry during WWII won't have helped either. I never saw one with cattle in it (last ten years of steam operation) but plenty in service as well ventilated vans in seasonal fruit and veg traffic.

 

They had clearly been cleaned up for the non-crapping agricultural produce transport. Photographs of cattle wagons loaded with the intended walking freight, often show a lovely extrusion through the floor level gap in the side sheeting. The extent of the extrusion indicates if the interior partition has been brought to either of the medium or small locations, a neat little modelling detail for someone.

[shunny]

Nice to see Hornby doing a split spoke wheel set for the first time for these and after the disappointment of the Oxford cattle truck this one is looking promising. 

[autocoach]

Nice to see Hornby doing a split spoke wheel set for the first time for these and after the disappointment of the Oxford cattle truck this one is looking promising. 

At least OR did a a split spoke on their 7 plank. Problem with OR is their flanges which are what is called in the US Pizza Cutter wheels. The wheel flange profile on recent Hornby products could also be better. I usually have to replace them with Gibson wheels as I did with the )R 7 plank. But did not have any split spoke on hand.  I think I am am spoiled by my US prototype models which have the NMRA standards flange or smaller.

[Wickham Green]

At least OR did a a split spoke on their 7 plank. Problem with OR is their flanges which are what is called in the US Pizza Cutter wheels. The wheel flange profile on recent Hornby products could also be better. I usually have to replace them with Gibson wheels as I did with the )R 7 plank. But did not have any split spoke on hand.  I think I am am spoiled by my US prototype models which have the NMRA standards flange or smaller.

hmm ....... must have very small pizzas over there ..............

.

Yes, it's nice to see Hornby introducing split/open spoke wheels though to be honest I hadn't realised this was new for them ! ..........I, too, will be replacing them with Gibsons though : apart from the matter of flange profiles they will have a die=cast finish which - while fine on yer average model railway - does lead to extra drag ( and noise ) in a long train [ not sure about dirt pick-up ].

[57xx]

At least OR did a a split spoke on their 7 plank. Problem with OR is their flanges which are what is called in the US Pizza Cutter wheels.

 

They were called that back here in the 70's when we had the likes of Lima's wheels.

[autocoach]

hmm ....... must have very small pizzas over there ..............

.

 

They would do quite well with 4 mm or 3.5 mm scale pizza's 

 

Up until the 1990's there were a number of US manufacturers who like the UK manufacturers believed that deep sharp flanges were needed to satisfy the toy segment of the Railroad model market.  The NMRA RP 25 profile has been almost universally accepted by the hobby manufacturers (even US Bachmann) for HO. We have a small minority opting for a very finescale flange profile similar to the P4 people in the UK. In practice the RP 25 wheel profile has served the hobby well this side of the Atlantic due to it's emphasis on a good mechanical interface between the rail and wheel in a scaled down environment without the mechanical forces of the prototype.  It works very well on UK prototype equipment as well.

Edited July 11, 2016 by autocoach

[Brinkly]

Having re-read the posts on this thread, I have concluded that I really must get a move on and finish the two David Geen examples I started a while ago!

 

My only excuse it they are being built to P4 standards and to take sprung W-Irons, but if the Hornby models are good, I might just swap the wheels over!

 

Come on Nick, get moving!

 

Regards,

 

Nick.

[MGR Hooper!]

http://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/news/the-engine-shed/cattle-wagon-decoration-samples-and-the-merchant-navy-updates/

 

 

 

Edited August 19, 2016 by MGR Hooper!

[Brinkly]

I think the majority of modellers would struggle to replicate the underframe and brake gear detailing, what an excellent job Hornby have done.

 

I do question the need for the prints behind the buffers mind!

 

Excellent job and thank you for the upload.

 

Kind regards,

 

Nick.

[Garethp8873]

They look amazing!! My favourite release of this year for definate now!!

[Edwardian]

Looks impressive, but I will wait to see if a version suitable for the mid-thirties emerges.

[Robin Brasher]

A huge improvement on the R122 Cattle Wagon which became a Southern Railway Sheep Wagon in 1973. The unpainted body reminds me of the Airfix cattle wagon with opening doors. I wonder if it will be possible to dismantle it to put some cattle in.

 

The Hornby website says that R6735A Bulleid 1947 10T cattle wagon in SR livery is due out on 26 October 2016.

[34theletterbetweenB&D]

And not for the first time, the contrast between the good looking new model on the old old track: it's a pearl on a turd.

 

Surely there is scope for a better looking UK set track system, with several of the HO set track systems to provide guidance in how 'something better' might look and be engineered?

[Robin Brasher]

Looks like the cattle wagons in the video in post 69 are on ready ballasted Fleischmann track which looks reasonable without going to the effort of ballasting Hornby track.