BR 'Rudd' Ballast Wagons
These wagons were originally built as Coal Hoppers (mainly HTV), but a surplus of such wagons in the early 1980s led to their withdrawal. This coincided with a requirement for ‘new’ civil engineers ballast and spoil wagons to replace the elderly Grampus open wagons and second-hand 16-ton minerals wagons then in use. A programme was therefore put in hand to convert more than 2000 such wagons into ‘Clam’, ‘Rudd’ and ‘Tope’ wagons.
The ‘Rudd’ variant involved the fitting of a new box body with drop-side doors, and also air brakes. 800 of these were converted by Marcroft Engineering of Stoke (wagon numbers DB 972000-DB 972399) and C C Crump of Connah’s Quay (wagon numbers DB 972400-DB 972799). The ‘Rudd’, which has a 21 ton capacity, was particularly long-lasting with more than 200 still in use at the start of 2008.
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Acquisition and use by the SVR
Following the storm damage of 2007, the SVR acquired 15 ‘Rudd’ Ballast Wagons on loan from EWS (now DB Schenker). They were used extensively for the repair project, and have seen regular use since for moving ballast, waste ash and similar materials. Details of the 15 wagons are as follows:
Number | Originally built | Originally built by | Original number | Rebuilt | Wagon Survey | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DB 972299 | 1958 | Pressed Steel | B 432033 | 1990 | Link | |
DB 972345 | 1958 | Pressed Steel | B 432343 | 1990 | Link | |
DB 972349 | 1957 | BRCW | B 423279 | 1990 | Link | Rebuilt from HTO. Arrived on SVR 2009. |
DB 972359 | 1956 | Cravens Railway C&W Co, Sheffield | B 420479 | 1990 | Link | Rebuilt from HTO. Arrived on SVR 2009. |
DB 972378 | 1956 | Cravens Railway C&W Co, Sheffield | B 420561 | 1990 | Link | |
DB 972407 | 1958 | Pressed Steel | B 432604 | 1990 | Link | |
DB 972416 | 1958 | Pressed Steel | B 432511 | 1990 | Link | |
DB 972467 | 1955 | BR Shildon | B 416448 | 1990 | Link | |
DB 972469 | 1958 | Pressed Steel | B 433453 | 1990 | Link | |
DB 972513 | 1956 | Metro Cammell | B 412521 | 1991 | Link | Arrived SVR 2009. |
DB 972548 | 1957 | Head Wrightson | B 425624 | 1991 | Link | |
DB 972655 | 1958 | Pressed Steel | B 431469 | 1990 | Link | |
DB 972677 | 1958 | BR Shildon | B 430362 | 1990 | Link | |
DB 972688 | 1957 | BRCW | B 423151 | 1990 | Link | |
DB 972724 | 1957 | Head Wrightson | B 426121 | 1991 | Link |
In 2015 an SVR NBI announced DB Schenker contacted the SVR this year to inform us that the wagons were available for purchase, and following negotiation I can announce that they have been bought for a competitive price. I would like to thank two individuals who have provided finances to assist with the cost of purchase.
In summer 2016 the numbers were repainted, making identification of the individual wagons easier.
Gallery
See also
References
Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey
LTSV.com (wagon class information)