LSWR(?) Horsebox

[Jon Nazareth]

I found this drawing of an early horsebox in a reprint copy of The Railways of Great Britain and Ireland by, Francis Whishaw. The drawings aren't particularly clear even with some parts missing. This may be a bad reprint copy or, the original is like this. Anyway, I'm going to make up a variation of this to go with the LSWR carriages that I'm putting together. There is a plan view but it is shown without the body which is a bit of a shame. I can't quite understand what is going on in the area where the hinge pins bolt on and the vertical strengthening pieces and what happens/gets in the way when the door is lowered. But, never mind, as I'm going to simplify that area when it comes to the build. I have some hinge straps left over from the LBSCR horseboxes and I shall use those but, I think that they may have to have some work carried out on them. I don't have enough space to display all of this new LSWR stock so, I've decided to attempt to sell off 6 scratch built LBSCR wagons and a pair of LNWR timber wagons made up from Mike's kits.

Jon

 

[Jon Nazareth]

The underframe made up with holes for springs and axlebox guides all drilled. The letters stamped on the frame correspond with matching letters stamped on each individual guide.



One of the side frames with a side below it scribed for the planking and top doors.



The side panels drilled for the hinges and catches with some of the hinges.





The setup for joining an end to a side all upon a sheet of plate glass. There is an angle plate on the left to hold all square. A bit elaborate, maybe, but it works.



The body coming together.

Jon

 

[john lewsey]

That's looking good already Jon

 

[Bigjohn]

Jon…..given that the body appears completed? Iwould have thought that the upper framed panels would be louvered/slatted for ventilation purposes, that would be my interpretation of the drawing. BUT I know nothing about the prototype.
Offered as no more than my thoughts
John

 

[Jon Nazareth]

John
You are absolutely correct. The louvres are crudely represented by simple grooves in those upper panels. Thinking about it, I should have made them more ‘louvre’ like.

Jon

 

[Jon Nazareth]

Someone has sent me an email saying that this horsebox appears in a railway illustration of the London and Birmingham Railway by TT Bury, 1837. I know that photography was about in the 1850s because there are pictures taken during the Crimean War but not sure just how early we can go back. I’ve asked for more information and or a copy of the print if it’s in a book but, sadly, it’s all gone quiet on the western front. Has anyone seen this print? Apparently it’s in a train with some coaches.

Jon

 

[NickB]

It's very unlikely to be a photograph since the technology was only just emerging in the late 1830s with pioneers Daguerre and Fox Talbot making the earliest known photographs (as we understand them) at that time. It's much more likely to be an artist's drawing. I can't help you with the source of this particular one, I'm afraid.

Nick

 

[Mike W]

The series of aquatints made by T.T.Bury covered the construction of the London and Birmingham Railway and are hand drawn. I have a set somewhere but looking on line, although there are several early vehicles depicted, I can't see a horsebox. There was also the two prints, broadside, of trains on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. A little bit diagraramatic, they include carriages, wagons, a sheep wagon and others, but I can't see a horsebox like yours Jon. Then there are the Bourne prints but they were all (so far as I know) done during construction, so few trains included.
Mike

 

[Mike W]

I believe your drawing came from Wishaw, published 1842? This is claimed to be from the Model Engineer for 1900, but I suspect is based on Wishaw as it doesn't show anything new.

 

[Jon Nazareth]

Mike,
Yes, you are right, the horsebox did come from Wishaw. The drawing above is interesting though. I notice that the axlebox guides are fixed to the outside face of the sole bars. I also see that there are no springs on any of the vehicles behind the tender. I bet they were in for a bumpy ride

Jon