North British Railway Jubilee wagon in G3

[geoff_nicholls]

I'm producing the patterns for an NBR 'Jubilee' wagon, an 8 to 10 ton end door mineral wagon for Williams Models. As someone who usually models pre WWI Great Eastern, it's quite different to what I'm used too with the strange end door hinge, 8' 6" wheelbase and enormous end stanchions.
I'm using the same techniques I've used for other open wagon bodies that I've built for Mike: the body is built from two layers of 1.6mm ply. That way I can get the laser cutter to scribe the positions of internal strapping and bolts, as well as the outside. it's dearer than cutting it myself, but much more accurate.
Strapping is mostly Evergreen styrene strip, which makes it easy to add the Cambrian Models bolt and rivet detail. (though in future I'm going to try real 16BA bolts).
I'm reasonably proficient at CAD (using Turbocad) and have drawn the hinge and rope loop patterns and had them printed by Chris Ward. The hinge looks a bit rough in the photos, but those loops are 1.25mm diameter and plastic, it will be a lot easier to file them smooth when they are cast in brass. The hinge will work just like the real thing.

 

[geoff_nicholls]

 

[geoff_nicholls]

The hinge loops are extra long, so they could also fit the later NBR 8 plank wagon. This type of hinge was also used by the Caledonian Railway, so far I've not found any documentation explaining why this hinge was chosen, not even from the NBR society.
I'm quite pleased with the pattern for the rope loop, which forms part of the W iron fixing, on the real thing. I think I saw a similar pattern on a wagon at the GCR in Loughborough, but I can't remember which one.

The third side you can see is from a Gloucester 5-plank, also for Mike.

I found using thin ply works very well for open wagons. The resin casting process reproduces the grain exactly, when you give the body a coat of primer, and a thin wash of black, it is impossible to believe it's not real wood.

 

[geoff_nicholls]

My laser cutting service by default covers the wood with thin masking paper, to prevent scorching. I found that when I pealed this off, I could leave the paper on the little circles scribed by the laser to represent countersunk bolts. These are included in the casting process, and make painting the bolts easier

 

[geoff_nicholls]

 

[geoff_nicholls]

Now, a few questions:
Does anyone out there know why the NBR and CR chose that hinge?
What other railways used that cowhorn shaped rope hook? (so Mike can sell it to fans outside Scotland)

I'm now working on the side door fastener. It's like the standard RCH one, a catch the drops down to hold the door shut and pushed up to release it. It's just occurred to me that they look very dangerous to operate, with several tons of coal pressing against the inside of the door.
Were they? were you issued with a tool to open them? Or was it quite safe?

 

[JimG]

The hinge loops are extra long, so they could also fit the later NBR 8 plank wagon. This type of hinge was also used by the Caledonian Railway, so far I've not found any documentation explaining why this hinge was chosen, not even from the NBR society.

Geoff,

I've just had a quick dig through the Mike William's (another one ) book on Caledonian wagons and the only particular mention I could find was that this design of end door hinge was used by the Caledonian on all mineral wagon designs up to 1903. It must have had some advantages since this feature survived Dugald Drummond's modernisation of the Caledonian wagon stock during the 1880s. I'll raise the matter on the Caledonian forum to see if there are any more details. My own feeling is that it might have proved to be a cheap and reliable method of providing an end door hinge which would be attractive to Scottish companies. Another question that might be asked regarding Scottish mineral wagons is why they used cupboard doors and not the more widely favoured drop door.

Jim.

 

[Mike W]

quick dig through the Mike William's (another one ) book on Caledonian wagons

I know, that makes at least three Mike Williams doing things with railway wagons and/or models. We are very common. I even get confused myself sometimes, but then my fiance says that's normal for me.

And I must say it is a superb book - makes me wish I was THAT Mike Williams.

Mike

 

[JimG]

Geoff,

Mike Williams (one of the other ones ) has responded on the Caledonian Railway Association forum

"I think that the reason was strength, Jim. The arrangement provided a large fixed member across the top of the wagon which tied the sides together. It lasted until the grouping - see Wagon Book p. 105."

This makes sense to me since the hinge beam imparts more strength to the door end of a wagon whereas the more "normal" style of door hinge doesn't, leaving the knees at the door end of the wagon to keep the sides vertical. Mike's reference to Page 105 in his book details a change to the open door end of mineral wagons from 1905 whereby the number of hoops was increased to three and the door itself was simplified with the heavy horizontal beams and vertical planking disappearing to be replaced with horizontal planking and "T" angle reinforcing straps to supplement the extended legs of the hinges. Cupboard doors were still retained on this modernised design. This design, and variations of it, were built up to the Grouping.

Jim.

 

[geoff_nicholls]

 

[geoff_nicholls]

the photo shows the sides with bolt detail placed together, alongside one I made earlier. The Cambrian bolts have the bolt itself sticking out too far so these will need cutting down, and the rivets representing the bolt heads will be filed down a bit. This process also finds any that haven't been glued on properly and need more firmly attaching.
The LNWR D9 needs a few more touches with a paintbrush, but shows the detail you get with resin casting real wood. the bolt detail is all present in the casting, but needs a thin wash of black to make it visible.

 

[geoff_nicholls]

I forgot to mention that the LNWR D9 is also now part of Williams Models range of kits. It can be built as the early D4.