freightliner_bond_57007

950496 Balfour Beatty 2004 950733 Balfour Beatty 2003 That’s pics of all of those listed as BD006F as shown here: https://www.ltsv.com/rd/design_detail.php?id=DBWN-BD006F Just to track down the non Balfour ones now as per the start of this thread. Cheers Alan

Searching those numbers above is throwing up a few more pics. 950336 / 950412 from Ernie Puddick’s Flickr also Balfour Beatty in 2004 Cheers Alan

Hidden amongst a recent Mike Cubberley Flickr upload and almost missed were: 950294 Balfour Beatty 2006 And the aforementioned 950197 Balfour Beatty 2004 Noting there’s a lot of difference between these two conversions. Cheers Alan

Hi all, I’m just pondering an idea for a small layout. In the sectorisation / EWS / early DRS era when flasks ran with barrier wagons where these uncoupled from the FNAs whilst running around the internal power station track with an industrial at the helm or where they left at the exchange siding? Cheers Alan

Having re-found an old Wagon number Excel spreadsheet on my hard drive dated 04.11.2001 that used to be available on the web I think I might now have found the answer to the BDA question. Design code: BD006F is marked up as a beam carrier. 950197 is the only wagon listed with this design code Pool 7106 which is described as: Unassigned BBRP Ltd Various BalfourB unpowered vehicles D Medhurst However, further googling suggests other wagons to this design code: https://www.ltsv.com/rd/design_detail.php?id=DBWN-BD006F Can’t find a picture though. Cheers Alan

Thanks Trog. That helpfully clarifies the use of the term Bale wagons then. Looking at both the pics I’ve shared in this thread, and also Mick’s, there appears to be two different designs of lifting beam: a simple single metal beam from which the chains hang; and a more complex construction of I-beam. I’m guessing that the difference would be in relation to which TRMs this could be used with? Perhaps one is for a pair of YOB single jibs and the other for a YJB twin jib? Or were they interchangeable / another reason for the different types? Finally, and again this is supposition unless anyone can confirm / offer an alternative view but if there were different types and different combinations of chains that means there are a few lifting beams. It seem likely then that a beam would be stored and maintained somewhere and then lifted onto a wagon ahead of a planned track relay job rather than a number of wagons being tied up and unused with beams sitting on them awaiting their next use? This leads to the suggestion that the light grey Salmon in my opening post is the same wagon and part of a small number used specifically for carrying lifting beams? Interesting that Perch are now being used for carrying lifting beams. I wonder if the BDA (or derivative) picture was some kind of trial as an alternative to the ageing Salmon? Really interesting and thanks for all the comments so far. Cheers Alan

Cheers Mark. Not seen that but not been out photting engineers trains for a long while.

Thanks. I did manage to capture a few pics of other Bales like this one at Corbridge on the Tyne Valley in Sept 2003 so I do know other wagons were used: The use of the BDA (to be confirmed) appeared unusual. Still not sure if that light grey wagon is the same one that I kept seeing or there were a number coloured similarly used for this purpose. Cheers Alan

Evening all, I’ve been looking at some of my engineers train pictures from circa 2002-2004 in the North East. It looks like a light grey converted Salmon wagon was in frequent use as a “bale” wagon as I understood they were called. However, on checking some pictures it also appears that I captured a converted BDA / BEA wagon. Unfortunately this was on my first digital camera so the resolution is quite poor. Does anyone have details of the “bale” fleet please and can help identify these wagons? In particular I’m interested in knowing if I kept capturing the same light grey Salmon or there were multiple of these. Cheers in advance Alan

Thanks Steven. I’ve got Gareth’s pics of the other two coaches so not sure how I missed these. Cheers Alan

Hi all, can anyone help with pictures of this please. I have two or three but all of the same side as shown here: https://www.departmentals.com/photo/975463 Cheers Alan

Yes please. Cheers Alan

Hi, there’s a picture of 50046 Ajax in April 1990 shunting an interesting set of wagons here on page 126 of Rhodes and Shannon - The Freight Only Yearbook No.2. Wagons are: Open wagon 12t van GUV Open wagon 12t van GUV Open GUV This picture led me to Google and then to this thread to try to find out more about the location. Cheers Alan edit - added reference to the wagons

Hi, I’m pleased to hear a resolution has been found and look forward to having the opportunity to look at, and purchase, these wagons in the future. Cheers Alan

Yes. Very prompt dealing with my return. Many thanks Alan