Accurascale Does a POO! ICI Soda Ash Wagons Are Latest Exclusives

[Accurascale Fran]

Hi everyone,

 

Well, did you spot our little clues? Our little references to POO? Our little sneak peek in our update yesterday?

 

If you didn't, then let us confirm it for you! The latest 'Accurascale Exclusives' announcement is the iconic 16 ton mineral wagons in the wonderful ICI livery which were used for soda ash traffic.

 

 

Prototype History Of ICI Mond Division’s Wagons for Soda Ash Traffic

 

 

When the Imperial Chemical Company (ICI) won a contract to export Soda Ash from the Northwich Wallerscote site in the mid-1960s, they encountered a significant barrier to operations when it was found that the vessels allocated to the shipping could not navigate the River Weaver. Instead, it would be necessary to load the Soda Ash at Partington Wharf on the Manchester Ship Canal via the existing wagon tippler, previously employed for coal traffic, however this necessitated the use of unfitted rail wagons, no bigger than the existing 16T Mineral stock.

To accommodate this new traffic, between December 1969 and December 1970 ICI’s Mond Division undertook a programme to convert 120 16T wagons at the Avenue Workshops in Northwich, covering vehicle numbers in the 652 to 801 range. These conversions were straightforward, merely adding a sheet bar and sealing the interior across the three door sides of the wagon and while the majority of these vehicles were scrapped by the mid-1970s, a number were re-liveried from their original ICI Green-Blue into the more familiar Grey-Blue, surviving into the early-1980s.

 

 

Pack P covers these Batch One conversions in their later life, with Nos. 751, 737 and 690 all being fitted with the stepped shank buffer housings and fabricated (but redundant) end doors, as well as Morton Double 2-shoe independent brakes. Axle journals are a mix of standard and square types, with both solid and pressed steel handbrakes being featured.

A further batch of 100 wagons were converted by C.C Crump, Connah’s Quay, between November 1971 and March 1972 and while they retained the sheet bar, the sides were reinforced with horizontal side braces and the removal of (in most cases) the side door, which was replaced by a welded panel. These wagons were numbered in the ICI 900-999 range, (C.C Crump 5500-5599), although at least one wagon from this batch, CLWD 5540, is known to have carried the TOPS code of POO..

 

Pack Q covers these Batch Two conversions, showing the wagons in a later bleached ICI Grey-Blue livery and covers Nos. CCC5534 and CCC5579 in this condition and CLWD 5540 with its POO TOPS Panel (the decorated sample incorrectly shows this wagon as CCC5558 and is being revised). All wagons are fitted with stepped shank buffer housings, fabricated end doors, standard axle journals, solid handbrake handles and Morton 2-shoe brakes.

 

The Model

 

 Making up the final two packs from our first production run of 16 ton minerals, these wagons will have the same unbeatable specification and will also be delivered in Q4, 2024. Priced at £74.95 per triple pack, with 10% off when you buy two packs or more, they will come with our usual special presentation packaging and are available to pre-order now from the Accurascale website direct only.

 

Demand is expected to be high so make sure you get your pre-order in via this link: https://www.accurascale.com/blogs/news/accurascales-exclusive-is-a-load-of-poo-ici-soda-ash-16t-minerals

 

Cheers!

 

Fran 

 

Edited December 14, 2023 by Accurascale Fran

[Mol_PMB]

Just to note, the end doors were very much required on this traffic as the wagons were end-discharged at Partington. 
Also, the sheets covering the load weren’t removed when the wagons were tipped, and they probably travelled sheeted in both directions. 
There are photos of these wagons in use, and in colour, at both Partington and Northwich, in the book ’Coasters of the Manchester Ship Canal’. 
 

Regards,

Mol

[big jim]

Think I’m going to have to order a set of these. Converted by my stepdads works so a sentimental family connection 

 

I’ll have to trawl my photobucket as I’ve got the original works photo of (iirc) the first one converted

[Mol_PMB]

2 minutes ago, big jim said:

Think I’m going to have to order a set of these. Converted by my stepdads works so a sentimental family connection 

 

I’ll have to trawl my photobucket as I’ve got the original works photo of (iirc) the first one converted

I'd love to see that photo, one of my projects is to detail up a 7mm scale version for my MSC layout.

[hmrspaul]

Those numbers are all familiar - although my photo of 690 is later than yours https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/icibulksoda  There must be more photos of these but Tower models also copied the same three in 7mm, although never acknowledged which is standard for Tower. 

 

I remember them (vaguely) very neat as we raced past on the Lime Street to Euston express in my student days of the very early 1970s. 

 

Paul

[Michael Hodgson]

OK, they're a change from the grey ones - and yes I remember seeing them when i lived by the Ship Canal. 

😃So yes, I've already ordered.

[Michael Hodgson]

59 minutes ago, Accurascale Fran said:

The Model

 

 

 Making up the final two packs from our first production run of 16 ton minerals, these wagons will have the same unbeatable specification and will also be delivered in Q3, 2024.

 

Sorry for nit-picking but Q4 according to the order confirmation

[Islesy]

1 hour ago, big jim said:

Think I’m going to have to order a set of these. Converted by my stepdads works so a sentimental family connection 

 

I’ll have to trawl my photobucket as I’ve got the original works photo of (iirc) the first one converted

That would be welcomed Jim, always good to see more material on any project, but especially for these.

 

Best wishes,

Paul.

[Mallard60022]

If they are ready at the right time, as they are POO,  pack them into smallish, Compostable Bags so they could be hung on Christmas Trees.

I've left already sans Coat.

A.N. Idiot

[No Decorum]

21 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

Just to note, the end doors were very much required on this traffic as the wagons were end-discharged at Partington. 
Also, the sheets covering the load weren’t removed when the wagons were tipped, and they probably travelled sheeted in both directions. 
There are photos of these wagons in use, and in colour, at both Partington and Northwich, in the book ’Coasters of the Manchester Ship Canal’. 
 

Regards,

Mol

The sheets not being removed even when the wagons were empty is interesting. It could be a solution to the perpetual problem of loads or no loads in open wagons. Bachmann’s sheeted loads are a brave try but not totally convincing as they don’t cover the wagon sides. Likewise, the woven tarps aren’t convincing as the texture is too coarse. Accurascale has had more success with moulded plastic tarps. The problem here is that the tarps will need to be roped in place.

 

The coupling sockets look as if they will be easily removable, which is a plus, but the couplings look rather like Hornby’s oversized versions. If they were to be based on Bachmann’s short straight couplings, it would be a small but welcome improvement.

 

Tasty looking wagons.

[Mol_PMB]

I've also just remembered that there are a couple of nice photos of rakes of these wagons in service at Partington in 1980, in David Ratcliffe's collection. As far as I am aware they have not yet been published and I can't share them here I'm afraid.

They show some of the later POOs which were converted from iron ore tipplers (hence the lack of side doors) and had to have the end doors added as part of the conversion (hence the unusual pattern of end door on some of them).

There were at least two different heights of wagon, which may have been due to the type of iron ore tippler used for the conversion but might have been more complicated than that.

 

The wagons featured in David's photos are:

CLWD 5691 (lower)

CLWD 5778 (higher, and with horizontal braces on the sides)

CLWD 5673 (lower)

plus others of each type with non-legible numbers including a higher one with no horizontal braces. 

 

The photos also show the ICI letters and numbers on the sheets, and how they were roped down to enable the end door to open without removing the sheet.

The livery appears to be the same as on the graphic of CLWD 5540 up-thread.

 

Regards,

Mol

[SKELTON15]

There were 3 types of wagon. First, the straightforward conversion modelled by Accurascale. Second, 16 ton minerals with plated side doors and third, former iron ore tipplers with raised sides and ends. It seems that batch 3 replaced batch 1 so the two types of wagons in David's photos will be batch 2 (lower) and batch 3 (higher). 

[Mol_PMB]

25 minutes ago, SKELTON15 said:

There were 3 types of wagon. First, the straightforward conversion modelled by Accurascale. Second, 16 ton minerals with plated side doors and third, former iron ore tipplers with raised sides and ends. It seems that batch 3 replaced batch 1 so the two types of wagons in David's photos will be batch 2 (lower) and batch 3 (higher). 

Many thanks; looking again at David's photos the iron ore tippler ancestry of the higher wagons is clear because they have larger axleboxes and tiebars between the W-irons.

 

Now, back to the Accurascale offering which includes:

- 'Pack P' described as batch 1 with numbers in the 651 to 801 range.

- 'Pack Q' described as batch 2 with numbers in the CCC 55xx range (later CLWD 55xx). 

 

If those are batches 1 and 2, then aren't there 4 batches in total because David's photos show:

- mineral wagons with plated-over side doors in the CLWD 56xx series

- former iron-ore tipplers in the CLWD 57xx series

 

Sorry if I'm adding to the confusion!

 

Mol

 

[Islesy]

2 hours ago, No Decorum said:

The coupling sockets look as if they will be easily removable, which is a plus, but the couplings look rather like Hornby’s oversized versions. If they were to be based on Bachmann’s short straight couplings, it would be a small but welcome improvement.

As indicated in the 16T blog, there are some outstanding improvements from the EPs that haven't, as yet, been carried out - one of which is to utilise the same NEM coupling/Tension Lock/Adapter Collar arrangement from the Banana Vans @No Decorum

 

Best wishes,

Paul.

[Islesy]

39 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

'Pack Q' described as batch 2 with numbers in the CCC 55xx range (later CLWD 55xx).

The wagons in Pack Q will be correct to the Batch 2 conversions, with plated doors and extra horizontal bracing struts, however these parts were not fitted to the decorated samples (which are based on the first EP). Once we receive the updated EP for these, we will update across the usual channels.

 

The research is sound in that there are three batches, with the third batch being very much different to the first two batches, with higher sides, greater capacity etc.

 

Best wishes,

Paul.

 

 

[ColinK]

Did they run as block trains, or in mixed freight trains?

[Mol_PMB]

These two photos on the MSC Facebook page show rakes of them at the end tipper at Partington, dated 1980:

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4243455469085168&set=pcb.2937299979727403

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4243454395751942&set=pcb.2937299979727403

 

The way the tippers worked was that the loaded wagons approached the tipper on a low level siding which sloped down towards the tipper so the wagons could be rolled onto it individually by gravity. The tipper contained a hydraulic wagon lift which would then raise and tip the wagon to a chute down towards the ship's hold.

In these photos the chute is raised up and you can see the blue sheeting which was intended to reduce the cloud of soda ash dust when it was in use.

Once the wagon was empty, it would remain at the higher level and would gravitate off the tipper down the high level siding, being coupled up to the other empties. 

So the rake of wagons you can see in the first photo above are empties. Note they still have the sheets on. 

 

As far as I am aware they ran in block trains. As you can see there was no storage for soda ash at Partington, it just had to be tipped into the ship, so the rail traffic may have run in bursts when there was a ship ready for loading. Almost certainly as block trains, like this:

 

 

 

Edited December 15, 2023 by Mol_PMB
added last photo link

[big jim]

Here we go, found in another thread thanks to @SKELTON15 this is the works photo from C.C.Crump 

 

non doubt someone will be able to say which batch/type it is 

 

I know my stepdad was particularly proud of these wagons when they converted them 

 

He’s got a model of one that was made by iirc mainline back in the 80s, or an approximation of it at least 

[Steamport Southport]

Yes Mainline, still got one myself. According to this 1977/1978. 

 

http://www.mainlinerailways.org.uk/Catalogues/NewReleasesA/RearCover.jpg

 

They were pulled by  J72s I assume. Mine was!

 

 

Jason

[Michael Hodgson]

Yes, Mainline produced one, running no 776.  It was also produced by Dapol, running number 268 but without the red solebar.  There may have been other running numbers.

 

Dapol also produced a 13T steel wagon in grey for Soda Ash (BR running number but labelled for ICI Warrington) and there was a Bachman Covhop. 

[richardupton]

I am now intrigued by these wagons and the freight flow they were used for. However, studying my Baker rail atlas of the time I cannot work out the route these trains took. Can anybody assist ?

[SKELTON15]

13 hours ago, big jim said:

Here we go, found in another thread thanks to @SKELTON15 this is the works photo from C.C.Crump 

 

non doubt someone will be able to say which batch/type it is 

 

I know my stepdad was particularly proud of these wagons when they converted them 

 

He’s got a model of one that was made by iirc mainline back in the 80s, or an approximation of it at least 

This is the chassis of batch 2 wagon 958 (aka CCC5558) with a batch 3 body. This was probably a prototype for the batch 3 wagons which used chassis of iron ore tipplers. The batch 3 body had a capacity of 19.5 tons so I don't think this wagon could have entered traffic with the chassis of a 16 ton mineral. It's a wonderful reference photo to confirm the livery and lettering and details of the batch 3 body.

[Mol_PMB]

4 minutes ago, SKELTON15 said:

This is the chassis of batch 2 wagon 958 (aka CCC5558) with a batch 3 body. This was probably a prototype for the batch 3 wagons which used chassis of iron ore tipplers. The batch 3 body had a capacity of 19.5 tons so I don't think this wagon could have entered traffic with the chassis of a 16 ton mineral. It's a wonderful reference photo to confirm the livery and lettering and details of the batch 3 body.

Agreed the chassis is from a 16t mineral, but I think the body is too. Below the plated-up side door is the plate where the door hinges would have previously been mounted. This would be absent on the body of an iron ore wagon. Also, the body doesn't look high enough to be a batch 3. I agree the end door is non-standard.

[big jim]

I’m seeing my stepdad tomorrow so I’ll ask him what he knows about it

[SKELTON15]

16 minutes ago, Mol_PMB said:

Agreed the chassis is from a 16t mineral, but I think the body is too. Below the plated-up side door is the plate where the door hinges would have previously been mounted. This would be absent on the body of an iron ore wagon. Also, the body doesn't look high enough to be a batch 3. I agree the end door is non-standard.

 

Thanks for putting me right. I hadn't spotted those details so it could have entered traffic in this state. A sort of 'batch 2 and a half.' I wonder if any more were converted in this way? We may never know.