London Transport ‘Herring’ Ballast Hopper Wagons

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The SVRSevern Valley Railway is home to three ex-London Underground 20 ton steel Ballast Hopper Wagons. The design of these originated with the 1902 GWRGreat Western Railway Diagram P6 20 ton Ballast Hopper[1] and later 1945 GWRGreat Western Railway/BRBritish Rail or British Railways Diagram P22 Ballast Hopper. These were not given a telegraphic code by the GWRGreat Western Railway, but were given the type name 'Herring' by BRBritish Rail or British Railways. The London Underground examples include 'foldback' buffers to allow use with L.T. electric loco stock.

The SVRSevern Valley Railway’s wagons are numbered as follows:

Number Built Built by Wagon Survey Notes
HW 410 1938 GRCWGloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Link
HW 411 1938 GRCWGloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Link
HW 436 1965 BRBritish Rail or British Railways Shildon Link

Service

The two early examples were originally ordered by the London Passenger Transport Board in 1936 for use on planned extension works on London Underground such as the extension of the Northern Line to Potters Bar. These works were cancelled in 1938 due to the impending war. The third example was not built until the mid-1960s.[2]

Preservation

The three ballast hoppers were acquired by SVR(H) in early 1984 and were initially intended for use in completing the extension to Kidderminster. Delays in receiving the LROLight Railway Order meant they were marooned in a goods yard at Shirebrook in Derbyshire, only arriving on the morning of 23 July 1984, the Monday of the final week before opening. They were immediately brought into use, greatly speeding up the final ballasting, lifting packing and slueing which was required at Kidderminster.[2][3]

The wagons see regular use on Permanent Way duties on the railway, and are normally stabled along the line, often at Eardington. The SVRSevern Valley Railway also has a number of other larger ballast hoppers, including three 24 ton BR 'Dogfish' Ballast Hopper Wagons and six 40 ton BR 'Seacow' 40t Ballast Hoppers.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. Paul Bartlett
  2. 2.0 2.1 SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book Ninth Edition
  3. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 73