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BR 'Seacow' 40t Bogie Ballast Hoppers

351 bytes added, 18:51, 17 March 2017

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[[File:~~Taunton YGA DB980208~~Seacows_20170317.~~JPG~~jpg|thumb|300px|right|The SVR's Seacow ballast hoppers ~~in use (Wikimedia Commons)~~at Eardington]]

The basis of this type is a design by the London and South Western Railway, first introduced in 1903. Further builds for BR took place in 1954, 1971-1974 and 1980-1982. Apart from the bogies there were only minor changes between the oldest and the newest builds, a testimony to the soundness of the original design. Depending on braking arrangements, wagons were designated YGV Walrus (vacuum braked only), YGH Sealion (dual vacuum/air braked) or YGB Seacow (air braked only but with the addition of a vacuum through pipe). The SVR vehicles formed part of the last build of Seacows, Lot number 3966, production of which began at Shildon and was transferred to Ashford.

== Acquisition and use by the SVR ==

In March 2017 the SVR announced the purchase of six Seacow wagons from DBS Cargo, financed and arranged by a supporter. The greater ballast capacity of the Seacow over the [[London Transport ‘Herring’ Ballast Hopper Wagons|Herring]] and [[BR 'Dogfish' Ballast Hopper Wagons | Dogfish]] hoppers then in SVR use assists the Permanent Way teams in the annual track relay and ballasting operations. They are air-braked so fit in well with the other 15 similarly fitted [[BR 'Rudd' Ballast Wagons | 'Rudd' Ballast Wagons]].

File:Herring_Seacow_20170317.jpg|Comparison of a Herring and Seacow ballast hopper

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DBS Cargo locomotive 66068 delivered the Seacows from Bescot to the SVR on 10 March 2017. {{As of|2017|3}} some work is necessary before SVR use. As delivered from DBS Cargo the vacuum brake fittings were removed or disconnected.

==Gallery==

File:DB980015_20170317.jpg|DB980015

File:DB980083_20170317.jpg|DB980083

File:DB980098_20170317.jpg|DB980098

File:DB980142_20170317.jpg|DB980142

File:DB980220_20170317.jpg|DB980220

File:DB980239_20170317.jpg|DB980239

</gallery>

==See also==

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