Prototype GWR Toad Guards Vans

[Dave Bowden]

Thanks Dave - sounds like it is in a good place, that's the main thing. It certainly needed a lot of work - which is what I think put me off back then. But these opportunities don't come up too often.

Would it be reasonable to believe that Oxfordshire Ironstone added the steel end plate with portholes (maybe window frames off an old industrial) to make life more comfortable for the guard when running with van leading?
Tony

Hi Tony, All

I have found a photo in a Bylines article on Wroxton Quarries of a GWR Toad van, there are no markings on it which makes it difficult to identify. I know they had three of them and Rocks by Rail got one from them, I presume when the Quarry shut down.



Dave

 

[Osgood]

....I have found a photo in a Bylines article on Wroxton Quarries of a GWR Toad van, there are no markings on it which makes it difficult to identify. I know they had three of them and Rocks by Rail got one from them, I presume when the Quarry shut down.....

According to Eric Tonks, Oxfordshire Ironstone Co had no less than 7 Toads!

The first arrived in 1958 for use as a passenger carrying vehicle for workmen, numbered 17898. (O.I. running no.1)

When vacuum braked ore trains were introduced in 1964 a further 6 were obtained. Here is a list of the vans with numbers and disposal information (but note the additional entry - listed under disposal info - without numbers, so maybe an 8th van then?):

1 ex 17898 ........to K&WVR Feb 68
2 ex 68564 ........to WH McAlpine May 68
3 ex 68642 ........to D Alexander Embsay Jan 68
4 ex 68684 ........to Didcot Nov 67
5 ex 68619 ........scrapped April 68
6 ex 68669 ........to SVR Sep 67
7 ex 68677 ........scrapped May 68
- ex ? .................to Southern Locomotive Preservations Feb 68

No 1 remained to the end as a passenger vehicle and was not used on ore trains.

(Info from Ironstone Quarries of the Midlands Part 2 Oxfordshire by E.S. Tonks)

Tony

 

[Dave Bowden]

According to Eric Tonks, Oxfordshire Ironstone Co had no less than 7 Toads!

The first arrived in 1958 for use as a passenger carrying vehicle for workmen, numbered 17898. (O.I. running no.1)

When vacuum braked ore trains were introduced in 1964 a further 6 were obtained. Here is a list of the vans with numbers and disposal information (but note the additional entry - listed under disposal info - without numbers, so maybe an 8th van then?):

1 ex 17898 ........to K&WVR Feb 68
2 ex 68564 ........to WH McAlpine May 68
3 ex 68642 ........to D Alexander Embsay Jan 68
4 ex 68684 ........to Didcot Nov 67
5 ex 68619 ........scrapped April 68
6 ex 68669 ........to SVR Sep 67
7 ex 68677 ........scrapped May 68
- ex ? .................to Southern Locomotive Preservations Feb 68

No 1 remained to the end as a passenger vehicle and was not used on ore trains.

(Info from Ironstone Quarries of the Midlands Part 2 Oxfordshire by E.S. Tonks)

Tony

Hi Tony.

I'm not really into Ironstone in any way so I wouldn't have seen the Tonks book, but a nice bit of research on your part. I'll check my Toad lists to see if any of them appear elsewhere (Heritage Rly lists)

Dave

 

[Osgood]

Here's a link to one of the Toads:

http://www.bluebellrailway.co.uk/bluebell/wagon/17908.html

(just doing a bit of 'ironstone' research

 

[Dave Bowden]

Hi Tony

I've come across another ironstone Toad Van No. 68642, this was OIC No.3 It is based at the Buckingham Railway Centre (Quainton Road) I may have told you about this before, so I apologise if so.

Dave