Where does the vacuum pipe go ?

[brian777999]

I am building the Cambrian GWR shunters truck (M4) and this is the first time I have built a fitted wagon. Does the vacuum pipe go to the left or to the right of the coupling hook ?

 

Photographs usually only show one end of a wagon and sometimes it is on the left and sometimes it is on the right. Does this mean that at one end it is on the left and the other end it is on the right so that the pipes are both on the same side of the wagon ?

[craigwelsh]

Photographs usually only show one end of a wagon and sometimes it is on the left and sometimes it is on the right. Does this mean that at one end it is on the left and the other end it is on the right so that the pipes are both on the same side of the wagon ?

It depends on the wagon, many run the vacuum pipe across at one end to keep it to the same side of the hook at both ends.

 

Not sure about the shunters trucks but weren't these just piped anyway and not fully fitted?

[brian777999]

Sorry, I meant that the shunters truck is piped....not fitted.

[Bernard Lamb]

Hi Brian,

Just looked through various photos of GW wagons and most appear to have the pipe to the left of the coupling hook. The 1937 built M4 would seem to be like that. He says very carefully, as I don't have a view showing both ends. This diag had the droopy pipe. Others were retro fitted with through pipes and some of these received tall pipes. The GWR painted through pipes in red in case you were unaware.

Bernard

[brian777999]

Yes. the kit has a "D" shaped pipe that bends down. I was not aware that the through pipes were red...thank you for that information.

 

I see from my own photographs that the pipe is to the left of the hook at one end. But what about the other end ? I thought it would be to the right so that the pipe was on one side of the wagon. But with so many photographs (of one end) of a shunters wagon showing it to the left, it has me thinking that perhaps it was to the left at both ends.

 

We need somebody to look at the real thing. I think there are a few restored shunters trucks still about.

[modfather]

the pipe will be to the left of the coupling each time so that there is a consistency across the fleet, It also gives an easy route for the pipe when coupled that should not foul or split open in service.

[Boris]

I thought fitted vehicles had red pipes and piped only vehicles had white pipes?

[The Stationmaster]

I thought fitted vehicles had red pipes and piped only vehicles had white pipes?

 

It changed in the late 1940s

[Bernard Lamb]

I thought fitted vehicles had red pipes and piped only vehicles had white pipes?

 

 

I did say the GWR and it was in connection with a 1937 built truck. Other times, other places, other colours.

Bernard

[Boris]

I was just curious as red and white is the only convention I knew.