TTA brake question...

Dog Star

Dog Star

Western Thunderer
Some photos, for example, of TTA wagons show a (brake) valve bolted onto the solebar... with the operating lever pivoted on a V-hanger. One end of the operating lever is attached to the valve and the other end of that lever is underneath the adjacent spring hanger bracket.

My guess is that this valve is load sensitive and adjusts the air-brake pressure (dependent upon the load being carried). If this is correct, then where / how is the operating lever connected to the suspension system?

Anyone got a photo of the linkage?

thanks, Graham
 
ZiderHead

ZiderHead

Western Thunderer
While we're talking TTAs, does anyone know what type of close couplings were used within the sets of 6? (or even have pics)
 
AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
ZiderHead said:
While we're talking TTAs, does anyone know what type of close couplings were used within the sets of 6? (or even have pics)
Click to expand...

I've never heard of any such thing; which users did you have in mind? I can't see any benefit whatsoever in any form of semi-permanent coupling (even if the rakes were, more or less, semi-permanent block trains). One duff wagon would take the other five out of action.

All the pictures I've seen of any species of 4 wheel monobloc tank show instanters or screw couplings.

Adam
 
AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
Now that is interesting. If you'll forgive the pedantry, they can't have been TTAs - they were vac' braked as built so, assuming they made it as far as TOPS in that form they'd have been TTVs (unless the fixed sets did something strange to the coding). Well, this vehicle parked up at the end of a siding at Staines Central in the sixties seems to come from the batch in question:

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/essopickeringa/h4c29e702#h4beb5e40

Note the (very) short buffer.The digram indicates a projection of 11 1/4" and I'd say that shown is about that. the coupling link you can just about see behind the buffer stop is presumably temporary/emergency to allow the thing to be moved. Here's another from the same batch but clearly some time later after conversion the AB and with replacement springs:

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/essopickeringa/h4c29e702#h4c08b3ec

This must be a rake of the things being loaded at Fawley when brand new based on the numbers on the diagram (the vehicle shown in the link above is there as it happens - the TOPS number was clearly the original number with a 5 on the front):

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/essopickeringa/h4c29e702#h4bebcd5e

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/essopickeringa/h4c29e702#h4bebcd30

Note the consecutive numbers. The diagram says 'plate link' for the intermediate couplers which, presumably. was something like the arrangement used for permanently coupled twin bolsters. Something like this?

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brtwinbolster/h5bc5256#h5bc5256

Or possibly this kind of thing used with Freightliner wagons built at about the same time:

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/lowlinercontainer/h2dd40168#h2dd40168

http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brfreightlinercontainer/h27f1e1e6#h27f1e1e6

Best guess territory but my preference is for the latter sort of arrangement since it would be easier to cut a vehicle if one of the set were red carded for repair. thanks for drawing my attention to that, I'd probably never have noticed it overwise. I have no intention of modelling the things, however, interesting exercise though it might be...

Adam
 
ZiderHead

ZiderHead

Western Thunderer
"Plate link" got me wondering too, and the latter coupling type could be described as such. It looks like its connected using 4 bolts through the end plates - doesnt seem strong enough considering there might be 1000t behind it ...

I like those B&W photos at Fawley, and an interesting variety of stock at the Ashford depot too :thumbs:
 
AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
I must confess that I hadn't looked at the background of the lowliner shot; all about the wagon... ;)

Adam
 
H

hrmspaul

Western Thunderer
The wagon at Staines Central was there because it had been involved in a nasty accident beneath the road bridge at the London end of the Station. IIRC just before Christmas - Chris Leigh has published some photos of the accident.

Why only this wagon was in there I cannot explain.
I don't believe the special short buffers and linkage remained on any of these wagons for very long.

Paul Bartlett
 
AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
Thanks for the info' Paul - that these wagons only remained as sets for a short period isn't really surprising; the introduction of bogie tanks must have rendered these redundant quite fast.

Adam
 
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