Regent Oil & Texaco 431 Aviation Fuel Tank Wagon
| Regent Oil & Texaco 431 Aviation Fuel Tank Wagon | |
|---|---|
 Regent Oil & Texaco Wagon 431 | |
| Built By | Powell Duffryn |
| Number | 431 |
| Other Numbers | Regent 431, TEX 47881, BR(W) 457 |
| History | |
| Built | 1961 |
| Diagram | 6/020 |
| Type | 4w Class B Aviation Fuel Tank |
| Capacity | 22 tons[1] |
| TOPS code | TSV |
| Brakes | Vacuum |
| 1984 | Entered preservation on SVR |
| 1985 | GW 150 main line appearance |
Contents
Contents
Service
The tank was used by Regent Oil, which was re-branded as Texaco Ltd in 1967.[3] While used by Texaco, it was allocated TOPS number TEX 47881. Its final duty was in freight trains carrying aviation fuel from Edinburgh to Prestwick Airport for which it carried the registration number BR(W) 457[1][4].
Preservation
431 arrived on the SVR from Cardiff on 23 July 1984, together with a Chas Roberts-built example 345, having been acquired by SVR(H)[4] with the aid of Don Wilcox, a former Regent employee.[5] 431 was restored to all-over silver Texaco livery and the following year appeared on the main line when it was used in the GW 150 demonstration freight train which ran to Newport behind GWR freight loco 2857.[6]
2857 near Newport with the freight including 431
Original plans to use the wagon to store diesel fuel were shelved and it was instead used to store water, both for firefighting[4] and for P-Way use to supply water for the steam crane.[7]
431 was delivered to the Wagon Department at Bewdley during 2014, requiring attention after suffering problems with all four Oleo buffers. It was promptly 'red carded', although this was briefly rescinded to enable it to act as an additional water carrier for that winter's major infrastructure project, initiated by Severn Trent Water, which involved replacing three of the four large diameter water pipes bringing water from the Elan Valley to Birmingham where they cross under the trackbed between Bewdley and Arley near Folly Point. The main picture (top right) shows 431 at Bewdley in March 2015 having returned, but still awaiting attention. At that time the Wagon Department noted that "It is now back with us, while we look for the best way to proceed. The worst case is replacement of all four buffers with reconditioned units, which will eat heavily into this year's budget. Once this work starts, paintwork will also be attended to."[8]
The picture below shows 431 at Highley in October 2018, with the paintwork still requiring attention. Traces of its later number TEX 47881 can still be made out at the nearer end of the tank.
431 at Highley in 2018
During 2019 sister wagon 345 was similarly 'red carded' for a faulty Oleo buffer and moved in to Bewdley Down Yard for repair. While there, the opportunity was taken to repaint it in Regent livery. However as of 2022[update], 431 is still awaiting similar treatment.
431 is owned by SVR(H).