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Index > News > 7 Plank Mineral Wagon Project - Page 2 Update 27th May 2002 Words & Pics © Gerry Leyman
Update 27th May 2002 Another milestone was reached on the 15th May 2002 when the second wheelset was put under the wagon and we were able to roll it out of the shed for the first time. A huge amount of work has gone on since January to get to this stage. Once the frames had been assembled for the first time we then had to start fitting the corner brackets, the east end were put in first using some of the old brackets recovered from the original wagon, they were very out of shape and distorted, however after much heating and hammering we managed to get them in place but the holes for the buffer support bolts and the buffer stems were in the wrong place so much modification had to be done. It took many weeks to get it all lined up with the buffer supports in the correct place on the headstocks. At the same time we had to get the inside buffer support brackets in place and all linked up with the bolts securing the headstocks and the "W" irons, we also fitted the new brackets between the centre longitudinal beams and the headstocks. Once everything was lined up and clamped in place the bolt holes were marked (all 44 of them) and then everything was removed again and that end of the wagon dismantled for the bolt holes to be drilled and at this time all the metal work was given 2 final coats of paint. Once this was done we were able to get it all put back together in one week. The second set of corner brackets were in a far worse condition, completely out of shape and wasted with corrosion. So we had some new ones fabricated with the holes all cut out in the correct places on a plasma cutter. What a difference, we were able to get everything in place the bolt holes marked, west end dismantled, holes drilled and all reassembled in 2 weeks. Next we spent 3 weeks cleaning all the dirt and corrosion from the wheel sets and repainting them, they are in quite good condition considering the years of neglect. Then came the job of cleaning the axle boxes and wheel journals. The brasses in the axle boxes were OK to use again but the oil pads were beyond recovery so new were obtained from the someone at the North Yorkshire Moors. Cleaning the axle boxes took hours due to the years of dirt and corrosion. Eventually everything was ready and the axle boxes were reunited with the west end wheelset, that end of the wagon hoisted up and the wheels rolled under for the first time. We were then able to put the new springs, that had arrived a couple of months before from British Springs at Bridgenorth, into place and bolt the spring hangers onto the bottom of the sole bars. Then we did it all over again for the east end and it took just as long, but it was all worth it on the 15th May when we were able to roll it out of the shed for the first time and take some decent photo's in the sun. We have also had to have half the draw bar replaced due to severe wasting on the threaded end. A start has now been made on sorting out the brake gear to find out how much we will need to fabricate before it can be fitted and also refitting the drawbar. If you are at all interested in railway wagons it really is worth visiting Washford, before we start putting the top on later in the year, to see just how everything links together on a wooden framed wagon. Did you know wooden framed wagons are pushed along by the drawhook at the rear? Regards Return to S & D News & Information Page
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