The Heybridge Railway, 1889 to 1913

[Richard Gawler]

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I bought this wagon because it seemed so unusual.

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The buffers are retained and sprung behind the headstocks. Sadly the builder recorded only what was already written on the sides, and not their name.

Please, do we know when this buffer conversion might have happened? I don't have any books on the North Staffs, so general information on build dates and scrapping would be very helpful too. The model is very heavy, I think from a white metal kit.

I bought this North Staffordshire Railway wagon because the buffers appealed and the model seemed nicely-finished. In my innocence, I bought a wagon where the load of ballast was an integral part of the model . . . I want it to be able to carry something else . . .


Eventually, the floor succumbed. The kit has been assembled using glue throughout.


Amazingly, the four sides stayed together.


I soldered in a new floor, this is 0.45 mm brass.


The primer rather highlights the lumps of glue used during initial assembly.


The paint job survived my efforts at cutting out the ballast, the heat from the soldering iron and three minutes in the ultrasonic bath - but not the “low tack” masking tape.


Wheels and compensation unit tidied up and re-installed.


Cosmetic floor from styrene sheet.

I am trying to tidy up some loose ends before the end of the year. This model has been in bits for at least three months, so it is good to see it sitting on four wheels before Christmas. I know I have said this before, but Happy Christmas

 

[simond]

And to you, Richard!