Wagon Report
STOKE wagon works, now part of the DB Cargo UK group but perhaps better known by its previous identity as Marcroft Engineering, is carrying out a further programme to convert BRA/BYA bar and coil carriers.
Work is centred on wagons that already have had their three-piece hoods removed. Further modification involves cutting down the end bulkheads and welding in place eight sets of coil-retaining extensions.
In all 40 wagons have been, or are being converted. Recent conversions have been No. 964041, Nos. 966031/03 6/041/045/058/062/067/085/093/096/ 111/118/129/136/143/149/168/181/21 6/237/238/253/254/258.
Prior to this, the major conversion programme carried out at Stoke was the MXA ‘Lobster’ scheme of 2015-16. However, after around eight years in traffic, the mismatch between the newish bodies and their more than 60-year-old underframes is becoming apparent. This is not surprising as during the rebuilding process more than a dozen wagons were rejected as donors because of their poor underframe condition.
As a result, large-scale disposals have begun, and already scrapped are Nos. 950010/204/232/272/37 1/403/473/517/527/549/576/690 /783/888/932/963/965/968, Nos. 951017/066/157/179/192/246.
ALSO built on refurbished underframes are Loram UK’s JNA-Y gondola opens for Network Rail.
Recent deliveries have run from No. 81705831172-8 to No. 81705831198-3.
More MRA side-tipper donor wagons arriving at Derby RTC for conversion have been Nos. 501004/006/020/053/ 064/066/080/113/128-131/135/ 136/178-180/277-279.
A FURTHER batch of redundant
IIA coal/biomass wagons are being converted into HYA ‘shorty’ aggregate hoppers by WH Davis at Langwith Junction, Nos. 37 70 6955 225-7/2356/248-9/257-0/265-3/267-9/2737/274-5/277-8/282-8/284-4/2869/287-7/288-5, Nos.83 70 6955 312-6/315-9/320-9/321-7/323-3/3290/330-8/331-6/342-3/343-1.
MOST new cement wagons in recent years have been JPAs designed and built by Feldbinder Spezialfahlzeugwerke in Germany. However, there are also two smaller batches of high-capacity cement hoppers built in France. Owned by Ermewa, they are JGAs Nos. 81 70 7829 000-1 to 053-0.
Dating from 2016-21, they were constructed in Douai, by Titagarh AFR or its successor Millet AFR.
Unusually for recent revenue stock, they have a gross weight of just 90 tonnes. Tarmac CRH hires the fleet for traffic from Tunstead to terminals in South East England, where demand for cement remains buoyant.
PRIVATE owner wagons withdrawn have been JNA aggregate box opens Nos. VTG 3248/249/253/255;
JGA limestone hoppers Nos. RMC 17209/228/246 and No. RMC 19242.
Disposal of redundant MHA/MPA* ‘Coalfish’ spoil and ballast opens by DB Cargo UK continues. Recent movements to scrapyards have been Nos. 394046*/093/137*/150/179*/20 5*/259/282*/337/369/399/500/511/5 24/566/568/579/620/772/785/821/8 31/839/849*/862/913/982/986, Nos. 396116*/139*/147*/153/162.
Also now under way is the removal of the septuagenarian YWA ‘Salmon’ railflats from the active wagon fleet. This follows the introduction of 260 new FEA-W intermodal flats financed by Wascosa and leased to Network Rail/GBRf for infrastructure traffic. Now deleted from stock are Nos. DB 996115/1 22/125/127/140/142/216/219/227/230/2 48/274/279/292/303/326/330/341/348/ 349/382/387/399/402/414/ 418/425/426/ 436/440/441/463/466/472/477/ 485/486/ 499/525/528/539/ 547/571/577/590/ 602/609/614/619-621/648/650/661/ 663/667/669/ 673/852/857/877/917/927/ 941/993, Nos. DB 997017-019.