Central Electricity Generating Board
20 ton flat wagons nos 1, 2 and 3, ex tank wagons
These
three flat wagons used to be tank wagon underframes, all built by Charles
Roberts of Wakefield to the RCH 20ton tank specification. They measure
21'6" in length over headstocks and ride on a 12'0" wheelbase unfitted
running gear. It is not known which operators or liveries were carried,
but they were all registered by the LMS and the registration details have
survived. Number 1 was registered by the LMS as 155343 in 1941, number
2 was registered as 165597 in 1939, and number 3 was registered 165606,
also in 1939. The underframes still reveal their tank wagon origins due
to a line of bolt holes which formerly held the tank securing rods extend
diagonally away from the solebar centre line. Also the solebars were painted
red, indicating they were class A tanks for carrying petrol or aviation
fuel. All three were converted by the removal of their tanks for internal
use at Meaford Power Station. Number 1 received a floor of timber planks
while numbers 2 and 3 received steel plate floors. The work was presumably
carried out by Wagon Repairs Ltd of Stoke, which once maintained the Meaford
Tippler wagon fleet (see tippler wagon number
23). As converted the wagons weigh about 7 tons, and were painted black
overall with the inscription "CEGB Meaford Power Station Maintenance Department".
The
trio was purchased for use at Foxfield and arrived by road on 8 November
1986. They were quickly pressed into service carrying sleepers and rails.
Number 1 has been converted to carry a Steiner 6000 hydraulic crane, of
the type often fitted to delivery lorries, to ease the handling of concrete
sleepers and other awkward items at the trackside.
Below: CEGB flat wagon ex 20ton tank wagon underframe
at Dilhorne Park in Sept 2006 