Cadwell Siding.

[LNERGE]

I have more information than most regarding the Eastern Gas Board Siding between Cadwell and Cambridge Junction, Hitchin. Whilst i remember seeing traffic in this siding i have no idea what the actual wagons used looked like other than they were tanks.

 

I found this picture the other day..

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/28178727@N08/13917795761/in/faves-32297024@N08/

 

Can anyone identify the wagons and direct me towards some better pictures of them?

 

I know a bit about what went on at the site. The wagon contents were 'distilled' at the plant to make gas. Again if someone can direct me towards a better description of the process i'd be grateful.

 

Lever plates from the ground frame, removed when control passed to Cambridge Junction panel/King's Cross and during the abolition of Cadwell box.

 

 

Edit to add.. Anyone notice anything about the plates and method of release?

Edited November 23, 2014 by LNERGE

[LNERGE]

Another picture showing the wagons clearer has come to light..

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/43528985@N04/17296317866/

[31A]

I have more information than most regarding the Eastern Gas Board Siding between Cadwell and Cambridge Junction, Hitchin. Whilst i remember seeing traffic in this siding i have no idea what the actual wagons used looked like other than they were tanks.

 

I found this picture the other day..

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/28178727@N08/13917795761/in/faves-32297024@N08/

 

Can anyone identify the wagons and direct me towards some better pictures of them?

 

I know a bit about what went on at the site. The wagon contents were 'distilled' at the plant to make gas. Again if someone can direct me towards a better description of the process i'd be grateful.

 

Lever plates from the ground frame, removed when control passed to Cambridge Junction panel/King's Cross and during the abolition of Cadwell box.

 

20141123_185256_resized.jpg

 

Edit to add.. Anyone notice anything about the plates and method of release?

 

Two number 2 levers?!

[kenw]

.. Anyone notice anything about the plates and method of release?

 

Two number 2 levers?!

 

.... and released by different 'boxes?

[LNERGE]

Ah no. The plates relate to a re-control. The released by Cambridge Junction plate was provided when Cadwell box was abolished.

 

On a more modern ground frame it is lever 1 that deals with the release. Lever 2 is then released by the mechanical locking between levers 1 and 2. 

 

Having a switch lever dates back to LNER times and was still used by BR(E) up to the mid 60's.

[kenw]

The two pics don't appear to show the same wagon types

 

In the first they appear to be the 45t (later TTA) type, with a large tank barrel continually supported from the underframe,

but although they appear new I think the '64 date's too early for air-braked wagons - or were first batches of this type vacuum fitted?

 

In the second pic, they appear to be smaller barreled supported on two brackets from the underframe, and the attached barrier wagon types suggest these are vacuum fitted. They look more like the Airfix model type.

 

(or variants of the above depending on what was carried)

 

ps in first pic, in the maroon liveried Flying Scotsman set, notice the pair of Mk2s? (2nd / 3rd)

[kenw]

On a more modern ground frame it is lever 1 that deals with the release. Lever 2 is then released by the mechanical locking between levers 1 and 2. 

 

Having a switch lever dates back to LNER times and was still used by BR(E) up to the mid 60's.

 

Interesting, How does it operate with a switch lever? Haven't heard of this arrangement before

[LNERGE]

There are one or two places with this arrangement still in use. It does seem odd having lever 1 unlocked and i have installed it myself on a two foot gauge line i play with.

 

With the signalman's permission you can reverse No1 lever. He will then give the release so No2 lever can be used. When work is complete No2 is placed normal followed by N01, the switch lever. The release cannot be given back until the switch lever is normal.

[LNERGE]

The two pics don't appear to show the same wagon types

 

In the first they appear to be the 45t (later TTA) type, with a large tank barrel continually supported from the underframe,

but although they appear new I think the '64 date's too early for air-braked wagons - or were first batches of this type vacuum fitted?

 

In the second pic, they appear to be smaller barreled supported on two brackets from the underframe, and the attached barrier wagon types suggest these are vacuum fitted. They look more like the Airfix model type.

 

(or variants of the above depending on what was carried)

 

ps in first pic, in the maroon liveried Flying Scotsman set, notice the pair of Mk2s? (2nd / 3rd)

I'm not sure of the process at this plant but Gas Condensate has been mentioned. As i say i've no idea how it all worked and exactly what was in the tanks but it was 'distilled' into gas here.

[JonKing]

Unfortunately I am unable to offer advice on the type of wagon used, however as I have some professional knowledge of this site I may be able to assist with some general details.

 

The Cadwell Lane plant was opened in the late 1960s (apparently on the site of an older town gas plant) and was capable of producing 44million cubic feet of town gas per day from natural gas (methane gas via pipeline) and virgin Naptha feedstock (via rail).

 

The siding at Cadwell Lane was used to unload trains of Naptha from the Esso refinery at Fawley which were unloaded into two underground 6,700 gallon tanks. Drawings of the site suggest that the siding had a capacity of 22 SLUs. Some of the documentation for the site suggest that these trains ran on an “as required” basis similar to those serving the gas sidings at Common Lane, Partington.

[LNERGE]

Super information there. The trains passed Cadwell down road and ran to Three Counties to cross over and run round to access the gas works siding on the up goods.

 

 

The route would be via 58 points reverse down goods to down main with 61 signal. The train would set back to the up goods towards 20 signal via 34 and 38 reversed with 33 disc.The train then pulled forward via the ground frame into the up siding. Loco untied and run forward towards the goods yard to run round via 41 points reversed with 40 disc towards 20 signal again. The ground frame was again used to get the loco back on the train to tie on. The train could then depart towards Cadwell/Cadwell siding. 

 

I'm not sure of the arrangements if 20 signal needed to be passed to get the loco past the ground frame.

 

An odd feature of this location was 38 crossover, with facing end locked by 37 FPL. Despite it being in the up main there was no signalled route from the up main to the up goods. This crossover was provided solely for use by the Cadwell gas train.

[Stotty]

Morning,

 

I am working in the location of the former Eastern Gas Board sidings, as part of my works I had to do a lot of digging into how these old sidings operate. This form helped a lot so I thought I would send you an excerpt from a Gas Journal in 1964 showing how the sidings used to work.

 

Cheers.

 

For Railway Forum.pdf

 

[LNERGE]

Wow! Super stuff. Many thanks.