7mm Empire building

[Ian@StEnochs]

Lots of shovelling over the side if they didn't want to dump a load of coal on the track. But why two end doors when the rest of the country worked with one?

All of the coal/mineral wagons owned by the G&SWR had two end doors! Virtually all the mineral traffic was carried in company wagons. Most of the coal was transhipped at Ayr, Troon and Irvine with wagon hoists to unload the wagons. Having a door at either end saved having to turn a wagon to get a single door at the correct end. Perhaps the wagon in your picture was so equipped to save provision of a wagon turntable.

Ian.