BR 989098 'Mermaid' Ballast Wagon

‘Mermaid’ Ballast Wagon DB 989098

The BR ‘Mermaid’ 14 ton side-tipping ballast wagon is very similar to the GWR design. This type of wagon was used to form a new track bed by tipping ballast from an adjacent line. The side of the wagon opposite the tipping direction would be clipped to the rail, and the body moved sideways on rollers by winding a handle. Tipping too many wagons at once could result in damage to the track!

This wagon was built by Metro Cammell in 1959 and arrived on the SVR in December 1996.