Fat Controller

This link may be of use:- https://lapassiondutrain.blogspot.com/ The chap's based in Hazebrouk, but has contacts all over the place, regards Brian

Back in 1975, I went to Barnstaple by train. It was definitely a branch terminal, and there was a rake of Banana vans in the (Busy) goods yard

They were built with twin pipes, the second pipe becoming redundant when they started running inn mixed formations with single-piped (mainly Ferry-wagons) stock.

Are they catch points, or are they expansion joints on an early installation of Long-Welded Rail?

Curiously, Hornby did a Conflat B, loaded with a 20' Freightliner container. The upper-works were poor, but the underframe was a pretty good representation of an 8-shoe, lifting-link, type, as fitted to 21t VB minerals.

Some went on to Redland Roof Tile traffic, then went in to the TML (later Eurotunnel) for used by the maintenance department. They could sometimes be seen from the A20. Not sure about their current situation.

I think there was one in the Gateshead collection; have a look in DaveF's or Irish Swiss ERnie's collection.

That's beautiful work; I especially like the gouged tyres. My French friends have one that serves as a reserve to a 1964 Fordson;. The French ones were built under licence by Hotchkiss, who also built Jeeps (and machine-guns}

'Chinagraph' pencils work, and can be sharpened with a normal pencil sharpener.

Some were not fitted with bolsters, or coil cradles, but retained a clear floor. These were used to carry ingot moulds from BSC Landore, alongside Flat WLLs, until the early 1980s. Sadly, my note-book of wagon details was lost many years ago.

The cat decided to delete my post... There has been a photo on RMWeb, of Conlflat Ls beiing unloaded at Bridgewater in the late 1950s. They were being emptied into tipper lorries fitted with hoods, but the load is visible. There are Presflos in the same view, suggesting different grades of cement. As to whether the containers could be unloaded whilst still on the wagon.. This would be very difficult, as the cutout on the floor was on a diagonal axis in comparison to the wagon floor.

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I don't know when the practice started, but the railways used to issue outline drawings with interior dimensions, door openings etc. They also had Load Inspectors, who would advise on the best practice for loading.

Very nice indeed.

Though all the vans in the photos appear to be standard 12t ventilated vans.... Might I suggest that they are either in store, or being used for seasonal fertiliser/ animal feed traffic?

IIRC, it was in the vicinity of Chateauroux; the photo I saw, on a French site, had more of the armour plating remaining in the cab area.

The traffic at Wareham was probably to/from the onshore oil field near Furzebrook. I believe this was operated by BP, so its output would go to one of their refineries , perhaps Llandarcy Being crude oil, it would be treated as a Class A, liquid, so silver tanks and lots of barrier wagons would have been the rule. Some of the barriers might be opens working to the adjacent clay-pits..

When I painted some model underframes in that purple, I used Caledonian coaching stock purple; some 45 years later, I still have a can. You're correct about the Gunpowder van at the head of the container train.

It was me, I think. The first 'colour-coat' line was installed at the Bryngwyn works, between Gowerton and Gorseinon, in the mid/late 1960s. My dad's company carried out the 'civils' work, and dad used to say that the level of precision demanded was far greater than he'd encountered in any tin or zinc coating line. The works produced commercial quantities, but large-scale production needed a much bigger site; the former John Summers site at Shotton being chosen. The corrugations were't square, but sloped slightly inwards. The sheets in the photo look to be either asbestos, or one of the substitutes, which I think used a glass or plastic fibre. Even when it's not asbestos, however, fire brigades treat it as though it is;, having read reports of fires at various locations, such as Tyneside Central Freight Depot

Don't forget chemical traffic to and from Whitehaven. Some very colourful wagons on that...

Many years ago, Model Railway Constructor published a long illustrated, article about Kilmersdon, including the pit itself, and the incline. Chris Nevard or Chris Leigh might have a copy.

French friends confirmed that the 4-wheel opens and vans were delivered CKD' (maquettes'; whilst the opens have long since been scrapped, examples of the vans may be found as static stores.

The vacuum-braked 21-tonner seems to have the correct arrangement of brake shoes which would mean they've tooled p two types of body AND underframes

My impression was that it was freshly painted

Steam had finished in 1965; this wagon was in revenue earning service. We used to get ex-LMS and GWR ex-Loco Coal on traffic to Carmarthen Bay PS, but mone with such noticeable markings.