A question for those who model north of the border - Mystery Solved

Rob Pulham

Rob Pulham

Western Thunderer
Hello all,

Whilst browsing the scottish volume of Tatlow's LNER Wagons I came across this strange NE liveried load on the back of a GNSR 8 ton drop side wagon and wondered what it was with a view to perhaps having a go at making something similar as a wagon load myself.

NE container.jpg

Thanks in advince for any assistance that you might be able to offer.
 
Ian@StEnochs

Ian@StEnochs

Western Thunderer
Hi Rob,
I model the G&SWR but have an interest in all of the Scottish lines. However I cannot help with identification of your mystery object.
It appears that all 4 panels on the side are doors, by the hinge knuckles visible, and should fold out. The sloping planking makes me think that it is a lightweight construction, diagonal planking stiffens up the frame better than vertical without the need for additional framing. I cannot see any means of lifting it like a container but the bottom looks level with the top of the wagon side, albeit it's only a single plank, could it be on small wheels?
My guess is it is some kind of portable display, sales, promotion booth!
Intriguing!
Ian.
 
daifly

daifly

Western Thunderer
Curious indeed. It appears to have a heavy-duty base which is noticeably longer than the body. Perhaps the means of securing is located there. The cupboard doors are secured by a key without any of the ironwork associated with containers. And just what is that thing that looks like an old lorry wing mirror lower right? There is no visible number on the 'container'. I suspect that Ian's suggestion might be close to the truth.
 
JimG

JimG

Western Thunderer
It looks as though the centre pair of doors fold back onto the outer pair of doors then these in turn fold outwards to open the entire side of the container - so Ian's suggestion of some kind of display might be close.

Jim.
 
Rob Pulham

Rob Pulham

Western Thunderer
daifly said:
Curious indeed. It appears to have a heavy-duty base which is noticeably longer than the body. Perhaps the means of securing is located there. The cupboard doors are secured by a key without any of the ironwork associated with containers. And just what is that thing that looks like an old lorry wing mirror lower right? There is no visible number on the 'container'. I suspect that Ian's suggestion might be close to the truth.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the thoughts Gents, the bit that threw me was that it's liveried so one would expect it to be a railway item and from the fading/dirt on the lettering it has done a few journeys.

I had noticed the "old lorry wing mirror" but like the chimney/exhaust that appears at the top I had (perhaps wrongly) thought that they were part of the building behind. A similar suggestion on the LNER forum (where I asked the same question) suggests that the "wing mirror" might be a tap and the the enclosure is there for security.

It all adds to the interest of modelling railways and I think that I will have a go at making a version of it because I have a nice NBR drop sided wagon that it would be right at home in.

Thanks again for the input.
 
Rob Pulham

Rob Pulham

Western Thunderer
JimG said:
...and what are you going to make of the other side and the ends? :):):):)

Jim.
Click to expand...
Hi Jim,

In the absence of any other information I planned to make both sides the same and the ends with chevron planks. The roof appears to have a shallow curve to it so I will allow for that too.

Based on the 10' wheel base of the wagon I estimate the floor area without the base/support beams to be approx. 10' x 6' so I will do the doors 2' and 3' for simplicity.

Watch this space as they say, I have already made a start on the artwork......
 
oldravendale

oldravendale

Western Thunderer
Daft idea again, but could it be a transportable compressor or motor of some sort? Even when I was working it was possible to hire in plant in case of breakdowns or unplanned servicing needs. I'm sure that has been necessary for ever, and the railways would not have gone outside their own organisations.

Brian
 
Rob Pulham

Rob Pulham

Western Thunderer
Mike W said:
Could it be a luggage container like these LNWR ones?

Carriages of LNWR Photographs

If so it cold have small wheels (like a luggage trolley) and maybe wheeled on - I don't suppose the wagon has drop ends?

Mike
Click to expand...

Hi Mike,

It does, have drop ends that is.

The other thing of note is that the wagon it's sat on is in departmental use so Brian's idea of a compressor or something similar might not be way off the mark either.
 
Rob Pulham

Rob Pulham

Western Thunderer
Mystery solved - This was posted by a knowledgeable gent on the LNER forum called Joh (sadly I don't have any other name to credit).

"The vehicle appears to be LNER 982001, which was based on low side number 472 and was converted in 1909 to a Vacuum Cleaner Wagon and was based in Aberdeen. There is no known date for withdrawal." The accompanying text in the book confirms the wagon as 982001 so it looks like an excuse to model a GNSR 8 ton single plank dropside wagon as well as the the "vacuum cleaner".

Even more fortuitously Mr Tatlow provides a drawing for it and from the photo it looks to have the more standard 3'1" split spoke wheels whereas some of them had 3'7" 10 spoke plain spoked wheels which might prove a little harder to come by (albeit that Slaters do list them).
 
Rob Pulham

Rob Pulham

Western Thunderer
After drawing it up during the week, I managed to crack on nicely with it last weekend. Here is my interpretation of the vacuum cleaner

IMG_9872_zpsdkelbkav.jpg

Dave mentioned the fact that it had a lock so I couldn't resist. - not that it shows up too well in white.

IMG_9873_zpshy5cbpii.jpg

IMG_9877_zps4vnbyslm.jpg

IMG_9902_zpssmbzzq2l.jpg

I also managed to get a fair way with the wagon itself but I left it up north so no photo's until it's a bit nearer.
 
Rob Pulham

Rob Pulham

Western Thunderer
Would you adam and eve it - the photos show that I have missed a hinge......:headbang::)):))

Edit - I just noticed that it's there in the last photo, I must have dislodged it....
 
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Yorkshire Dave

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
This might be a dumb question, was this produced with the cameo cutter?

It's a nice model and I do like the uneven canvas finish on the roof.

Do we now have to guess what's inside? Hoover, Electrolux, AEG, Miele....:D
 
Rob Pulham

Rob Pulham

Western Thunderer
This weekend saw lot's of little movements on various projects. One of them being more progress on the GNSR Vacuum cleaner wagon.

IMG_0089_zpscjirspe6.jpg

IMG_0094_zpsvakeeedi.jpg

The axleboxes are extensively modified Slaters Gloucester Carriage and Wagon spares paired with Parkside BR W Irons that I filled the hole and then cut out to form the 'W'. - They came as optional spares with my plate wagon kit. The Springs I bought from Slaters by mistake - I thought that I was getting W Irons with springs attached and axle boxes but when they came they were just springs and axleboxes....
 
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