LarryG
Western Thunderer
The Midland Railway is generally associated with clerestory roof coaches and for good reason; It did not adopt the semi-elliptical roof until 1915. Below is a typical coach from the pre-1905 Bain era (model built to D470 from Bill Bedford etched sides)....
It was claimed the elliptical roof would bring with it a saving in cost of £35 to £40 per vehicle and 12 cwt in weight. The first coaches were 8' 6" wide non-corridor coaches built in 1915, but it wasn't until 1916-7 that the new roof appeared on a batch of experimental steel-ended corridor coaches. All were 9' wide although the brake third and four brake composites had recessed flat sides at the brake end. Grab handles were the 'lazy S' type...
Ends and gangways were built of steel with two vertical 'L' struts and stronger buffing gear to minimize the danger of telescoping in the event of collisions.....
The experimental bulbiron 10' bogies were a much stronger version of an older 10' bogie but with longer springs...
A D1046 brake composite finished in full Midland Railway livery....
The full length bogie stepboards were removed beginning in the 1930's although some coaches retained them at the brake end while others had a short stepboard under the rear axlebox. A D1046 in early BR livery. They were withdrawn between 1952 and January 1957 so none got BR maroon....
To be continued...
It was claimed the elliptical roof would bring with it a saving in cost of £35 to £40 per vehicle and 12 cwt in weight. The first coaches were 8' 6" wide non-corridor coaches built in 1915, but it wasn't until 1916-7 that the new roof appeared on a batch of experimental steel-ended corridor coaches. All were 9' wide although the brake third and four brake composites had recessed flat sides at the brake end. Grab handles were the 'lazy S' type...
Ends and gangways were built of steel with two vertical 'L' struts and stronger buffing gear to minimize the danger of telescoping in the event of collisions.....
The experimental bulbiron 10' bogies were a much stronger version of an older 10' bogie but with longer springs...
A D1046 brake composite finished in full Midland Railway livery....
The full length bogie stepboards were removed beginning in the 1930's although some coaches retained them at the brake end while others had a short stepboard under the rear axlebox. A D1046 in early BR livery. They were withdrawn between 1952 and January 1957 so none got BR maroon....
To be continued...
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