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Central Electricity Generating Board 20 ton Coal Tippler wagon, number 23


 
Above: CEGB 20 ton tippler wagon number 23 as restored for the second time in 1994
 
Built by G R Turner of Langley Mill in 1937, this tippler wagon was registered by the GWR as no 6516. It was one of 233 delivered to the West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority for its new power station at Ironbridge, Buildwas, Shropshire (also the home of locomotive "Ironbridge No1"). As a specialised wagon without doors it escaped the mass pooling of private wagons in WW2 and became part of the "non-pool" fleet operating in block coal trains. In 1948 the WMJEA was nationalised and ownership of the wagon fleet passed to the British Electricity Authority, which later became the Central Electricity Generating Board. Sometime in the early 1950s about 150 of the fleet, including number 23, were allocated to Meaford Power Station near Stone to carry coal from Florence Colliery, Longton. There were two slightly different designs of these tippler wagons, distinguished by the spacing of the stanchions on the body side. Some, including number 23, had the stanchions spaced unevenly as though side doors were to be fitted. Others had regularly spaced stanchions. No 23 has carried the same grey body colour throughout its life, but has carried four owners names on its sides:

·West Midlands Joint Electricity Authority (1937 - 1948)

·British Electricity Authority (1948 - 1953)

·Central Electicity Authority (1953 - 1958)

·Central Electricity Generating Board (1958 - present)

It was at some stage was fitted with strengthening brackets around each side stanchion and on the corners, to prevent damage when tipped over, and also received a five-digit TOPS number. These wagons became a regular part of the local North Staffordshire rail scene until the late 1970s. When the CEGB wagon fleet began to be reduced in the early 1970s number 23 was declared redundant and was presented to the Society for preservation. It arrived by road on 13 October 1973 and was soon restored for use on demonstration freight trains from 1974 onwards. However after twenty years it needed a further overhaul and this was accomplished through the generosity of National Power at Swindon, which arranged for a full overhaul to be carried out at the mechanical maintenance department of Rugeley Power Station. The wagon left Foxfield on 30 March1994 and returned on 25 August. Work included shotblasting, complete re-plating of the body and a professionally signwritten livery, ensuring the wagon will remain in fine condition for many years to come.

Above: CEGB 20 ton tippler wagon number 23 under restoration in 1973-4 

An identical wagon to number 23 is also preserved at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham). 

A few years after receiving and restoring number 23, the railway was in need of a large modern flat wagon for its permanent way train. A further example of these wagons was purchased from storage at the CEGB, TOPS number 23002, for use as a flat wagon after removal of the body. It has since been sold.

Below: CEGB 20 ton tippler wagon number 23 at the head of a demonstration goods train in 2000 
                    [photograph by John Sherratt] 


 

For more information on the Foxfield Steam Railway, its passenger services and special events please see the official website at http://www.foxfieldrailway.co.uk.