WAGON REPORT
China clay is mica-rich granite that has undergone a process of kaolinisation. It is found in significant quantities in Cornwall and has been transported by rail since the Victorian era, initially by horse drawn tramway.
In the heyday of rail movements during the Speedlink era, lump clay, ball clay and slurry were transported. Notable destinations for slurry were the Bowater Paper Corporation at Sittingbourne in Kent, Caledonian Paper at Irvine in North Ayrshire, and the Iggesund board mill at Workington.
Lump clay was sent to various customers in Scotland, including PD Stirling at Mossend, Tullis Russell, Auchmuty and Wiggins Teape at Corpach. Today just two rail-borne flows remain: export traffic via Fowey docks and domestic movements to the Potteries.
A single weekly ‘Clayliner’ train runs from St. Blazey to Stoke-on-Trent via Bescot yard. In the 1960s the service was daily to North Staffordshire yards at Etruria, Longport and Longton.
In 1982 it was decided to centralize operations at a new Cliffe Vale site. Using finance provided by a Section 8 grant, the new English China Clays terminal had an unloading shed, underground hopper and conveyor belts to storage bays with a capacity of 6,000 tonnes. Currently traffic is handled by 26 63-tonne capacity JIA bogie hoppers owned by Nacco and built in 2000 by Arbel Fauvet Rail, Nos. 33 70 0894 000-5 to 025-2. Modernisation of export traffic via Carne Point jetty at Fowey Docks took place in 1988. Elderly end-tipping ‘Clay Hoods’ were withdrawn and 124 new CDA hoppersbuilt, Nos. 375000-123. As traffic has declined, just over 80 wagons remain in stock, enough to form two rakes of 38, plus maintenance spares. French conglomerate Imerys runs operations today, exporting clay to the Nordic countries for paper production and to Egypt, Italy and Portugal for the manufacture of ceramics. In 1983 BREL Shildon built a prototype YMA railflat No. DB 996699 as part of a plan to modernize the engineers’ fleet. However, financial restrictions led to the retention of more than 600 existing YMA ‘Salmon’ unfitted wagons of 1949-61 vintage. Air brakes were added but they retained the outdated GWR-style plateback bogies. EWS carried out a programme to fit American designs, and built ASF three-piece cast steel bogies. Modified flats were recoded either YSA or YWA depending on the maximum speed allowed. Later in 2009, DB Schenker carried out the installation of triple stanchions to allow the transport of recovered track panels. Designated YKA ‘Osprey’, they have been successful though a large number have been reconverted back to YWA ‘Salmon’ status. Of interest is that most were built by long vanished private companies including Head Wrightson, Powell Duffryn, Teeside Shipbuilding & Engineering and GR Turner. Three wagons – Nos. DB 996286/341/382 – are employed as runners for Kirow 25 tonne diesel hydraulic cranes Nos. 81625/623/624, operated by Swietelsky Babcock Rail. Disposals to CF Booth, Rotherham, for scrap have been JGA aggregate hoppers Nos. BHQ 17120/127/ 130148/150/ 151, TEA bogie fuel tanks Nos. VTG 85301/311 and JRA box opens Nos. 33 70 6905 050-4 to 073-6.