The third volume of this interesting survey examining the wagon fleet inherited by British Railways from the ‘Big Four’ railway companies in 1948. This volume focuses on coal wagons built to the Railway Clearing House specification dating from 1923.
The wagons built under this specification were originally rated at 12-ton capacity, although this was uprated to 13 tons at the outbreak of the Second World War. Vehicles built for the ‘Big Four’ companies are covered in detail, as are those delivered to private owners with their numerous complex door variations, which also came into the inventory of the newly formed BR.
Some of the former private owner wagons were specifically designed to carry coke from the outset. British Railways treated these acquisitions, together with dual-purpose coal/coke wagons and others converted after the war to carry coke only, as a special category of vehicle. These variations are examined in detail.
The Acquired Wagons of British Railways Volume 3 contains black & white photographs of many different wagon variants, accompanied by descriptions and background information as available. Number ranges or sample numbers of vehicles inherited are also provided where available. Hardback. 144 pages.