Birmingham & Gloster Rly, Slatted Wagon (my title)

[Jon Nazareth]

John
Ah, never thought of that, thank you.

Jon

 

[Mike W]

I don't like the tapered posts idea because it wiggle its way down in transit, jam up solid and soon need a hammer to get them out. Those posts along the sides and ends could have small wider sections to locate onto the tops of the straps (a blacksmith's job), but the drawing is simplified so as not to show them? Or could the straps and the sections of posts below them actually be a housing and the bottom part of the posts are reduced in size to locate in them - i.e. the bottom is part of the housing not part of the post as it appears?
The whole upper structure, including that wide plank, could lift off as one, but why would it?
How high are the sides? I'm thinking whether the loads (not livestock!) could be lifted over?
I truth, I have no idea! But it will be an interesting model.
Mike

 

[Jon Nazareth]

Mike
I should have gone over the drawing more thoroughly before I even started the build. That way, I would have noticed all of the ‘unknowns’ and most probably not even have started the build! Too far down the road to scrap it now.

Jon

 

[cctransuk]

I don't like the tapered posts idea because it wiggle its way down in transit, jam up solid and soon need a hammer to get them out.

Correct me if I misunderstand but - are we not talking about ballast wagons converted for general traffic. Moreover, this is very early railwaying - better ways of doing things came later with experience.

There is no evidence - is there? - that the conversion was intended to be reversible. Ease of loading was a consideration that came with development.

..... and big hammers were an essential implement in the days of blacksmith engineering!

John Isherwood.