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Acknowledgements
Container Summary:
A????B - A1610B -
AFP66414B - AFP16496B -
B55733B - BC9900B -
BD46631B - BD47376B -
BD48839B - BD50343B -
BK????B - D?????B
The containers:
A number of containers both on and off the GCR have been surveyed with
a view to establishing a representative selection. It is clear that we
can't preserve all of them; the survivors are generally in a bad to
awful condition having spent more than half of their 50-year lives
standing in industrial yards and farmers' fields. They were of fairly
light construction in the first place and many years of only limited
maintenance have not been kind.
The container numbers consist of a prefix letter or letters denoting
the type, a unique serial number, and a suffix denoting the company
which built it. All of our containers carry a 'B' suffix indicating that
they were built by or for British Railways. Pre-Nationalisation examples
acquired different suffixes under BR ownership.
'Diagram' numbers refer to the design details in the BR
diagram book. In some cases more than one diagram exists for containers
intended to fulfil the same function. 'Lot number' refers to the particular
order number under which a given batch of containers was built. It was
not unknown for a single lot to include containers to more than one
diagram!
This page includes all of the containers currently on the GCR or
promised to the project. However, some of them are owned by private
individuals or groups and their inclusion in this list does not
necessarily mean that they will be made available or that they are 100%
'safe'. Watch this space...
'A' type containers:
The 'A' type containers were 7' 6" long and had doors at
one end only. They were a general purpose container and could
carry either 4 or 5 tons. Two could be carried on a single
'Conflat A' wagon, although it was more common to see a single
'A' type container sitting in the middle of the wagon.
Apart from a handful of experimental containers, there were three
basic designs: diagram 3/001 was the most numerous, with 3,800
containers made from wooden boarding with one end of pressed steel.
Diagram 3/003 was similar but without the steel end, and diagram
3/002 was clad in plywood.
- A????B
Diagram 3/001 (1949-57).
A????B at Loughborough, with A1610B alongside.
Photo © P. Hetherington 11/12/04.
This container's original number is currently unknown
due to a more recent coat of paint. Much of the cladding
has fallen off one side, and although this has been patched
up with roofing felt to prevent further water ingress, the
woodwork is in pretty poor condition.
Currently used for storage at Loughborough GCR, it
is hoped that this container may be made available for
future restoration or, failing that, a source of spares.
- A1610B
Diagram 3/001. Lot 2555
(420 containers), Earlestown 1954.
With the recent movement of the adjacent container
it is now possible to get a good view of the side of A1610B.
Photo © P. Hetherington 22/01/07.
The original number has been painted over but its
identity has been deduced from other code numbers still
visible.
Currently used for storage at Loughborough GCR, it
is hoped that this container may be made available for
future restoration.
'AFP' type containers:
'AF' containers were small containers desiged for carrying
frozen food. The 'AFP' was a slightly longer variant, the 'P'
indicating that the food would be loaded on pallets. 136 wooden
containers were built in 1958-59 and 6 experimental fibreglass
containers were added in 1961; we have been fortunate in finding
one of each. It is intended to restore both to their original 'Birds
Eye' livery although reproducing this will be a challenge!
The former LNWR branch to Loughborough Derby Road was already closed
when these containers were built - in fact passenger services were
withdrawn as early as 1931 - but both the goods shed and the locomotive
shed survived in industrial use, the latter in considerably modified
form. At some point in time the occupier of the locomotive shed acquired
these two containers, and it is thought that they were used to store
sacks of coal before eventually falling into disuse and decay, along with
the locomotive shed itself. With the site due for redevelopment, the
owner kindly agreed to donate the containers and they were rescued on
10/01/07.
'AFP' containers are an obscure size and can only be carried, in pairs,
on a 'Conflat B' wagon. About which, more on the wagons page - under 'Future Plans'!
- AFP66414B
Diagram 3/256, lot 3249, Swindon
1958.
AFP66414B prior to rescue, showing the worst side. The
remains of the doors have been stowed in the other container.
Photo © P. Hetherington 28/12/06.
The better side and the back of AFP66414B. This container
has now been sheeted over to protect it from further damage.
Photo © P. Hetherington 27/01/07.
A similar container showing the original livery. The
number on the caption is incorrect; it should say AFP 66370B.
Photo from Transport Age No.18, 1961. Taken from Paul Bartlett's
website (used with permission)
This container is in pretty poor condition. The doors have fallen
off, and fallen apart too. Some of the framework around the doorway
is rotten, and some of the cladding has fallen from one side and
the back. The roof is anybody's guess, and when we moved it the
insulation fell out of the floor - although the main structural
timbers must be ok, as it kept its shape. And it does have one
good side!
If a better diagram 3/256 container comes to light then this one
might become a parts donor, but at the moment no other example is
known so the container remains in the restoration queue for
now.
- AFP16496B
Diagram 3/257, lot 3428, Mickleover 1961.
AFP16496B prior to rescue. Traces of the words 'Birds Eye'
and 'Insulated Container' are visible on the doors.
Photo © P. Hetherington 28/12/06.
Carefully rubbing down has revealed its number - rather
surprisingly, in blue paint!
Photo © P. Hetherington 22/01/07.
AFP16494B in happier times, being handled by a Shelvoke
& Drewry 'Freightlifter'.
Photo © Paul
Bartlett (used with permission)
'Mickleover' is believed to be the name of a London-based
contractor, rather than the Derbyshire town. Just six of these
containers were built, numbered from 16494 to 16499, and their
notable feature is that they were made from fibreglass at a
time when BR were experimenting with different construction
materials.
Although this container is in generally excellent condition,
there are some problems. The floor pan has steel sills rather
like those on a car, and they have rotted like those on a car
too. Some of the door securing mechanism has been cut off, and
a hole has been drilled in the back for a cable to be fed
through. Despite these issues, this should be one of the easier
restorations when the time comes.
'B' type containers:
The 'B' type was effectively a double-length 'A' type, 16' long
with doors at one end only. 50 light alloy examples were built in
1958, but the 325 containers to diagram 3/049 was a more traditional
wooden design.
Two batches were built, lot 2888 (Swindon, 1956) comprising
containers 55700 to 55849, and lot 2965 (Earlestown, 1957)
comprising containers 55525 to 55699.
- B55733B
Diagram 3/049, lot 2888 (150
containers), Swindon 1956.
B55733B at Loughborough.
Photo © P. Hetherington 11/12/04.
The diagram specifies tongue-and-groove boarding for these
containers, but all of the evidence suggests that they were
actually all clad in plywood. Certainly this applies to both
B55733B and B55730B (the latter being at Bewdley on the Severn
Valley Railway), as well as B55549B from the second batch (which
is pictured in a book).
This container was quite difficult to identify, but after much
careful squinting under a strong sun,
the number _5_73_B appeared as if by magic. The first two
gaps can only be a 'B' and a '5' for this design, and the
right hand side of the final gap is clearly either a '3'
or an '8'. The curvature matches the adjacent '3' and so it
must be another '3'; an '8' with this curvature would have
to be wider and would not fit the gap. So, B55733B it is,
probably, and unless anyone can prove me wrong.
Unfortunately it is in poor condition; restoration will be a
very long-term project.
Currently used for storage at Loughborough GCR, it is
hoped that this container may be made available for
future restoration.
'BC' type containers:
Essentially a 'B' type with the addition of racks to carry 76
bicycles, 351 of these were built between 1951 and 1957 to two
similar designs: diagram 3/100 (285 containers) had boarded sides
and pressed steel ends, while diagram 3/101 (66 containers) had
boarded sides and ends. As the cycle manufacturer Raleigh was a
famous Nottingham firm, there is a significant local connection, so
a BC container is an important part of the collection.
- BC9900B
Diagram 3/100, lot 2833 (60
containers), Wolverton 1956.
BC9900B at Loughborough.
Photo © P. Hetherington 11/12/04.
This container is in fairly good condition and it is hoped
to restore it to the earlier maroon livery, traces of which
are still visible if you know where to look.
Currently used for storage at Loughborough GCR, it
is hoped that this container may be made available for
future restoration.
Another 'BC' from the same lot, BC9937B, was located at Loughborough
GCR for many years. This was in very poor condition and was finally
broken up in December 2006, although some useful parts were salvaged to
assist with the restoration of some of the others.
A metal repair plate with traces of its number painted on it was salvaged
from the bonfire, so it was finally positively identifed when it had
already been reduced to a pile of bits. |
BC9937B at Loughborough.
Photo © P. Hetherington 11/12/04. |
Two further 'BC' containers have been viewed in the south of
England. One has been re-coded 'B' following the removal of its bicycle
racks, and is in fairly good condition. The other is from the much rarer
diagram 3/101 design, but is in a fairly fragile state. Both containers
may become available in due course.
'BD' type containers:
The 'BD' is basically a 'B' type container with the addition of
side doors. These were found to assist unloading where the
container could remain on the wagon, and this eventually became
the most numerous container type with almost 10,000 examples
built between 1949 and 1958.
Over 9,000 of these were to diagram 3/050, of boarded construction
with one end of pressed steel, and all but the last 400 were built
at three former LMS wagon works: Earlestown, Wolverton and St.
Rollox.
- BD46631B
Diagram 3/050, lot 2785
(1,500 containers), Wolverton 1956.
BD46631B at Loughborough.
Photo © P. Hetherington 11/12/04.
Currently used for storage at Loughborough GCR, this
container is in very poor condition and will probably be
broken for spares.
- BD47376B
Diagram 3/050, lot 2786
(600 containers), Wolverton 1956.
BD47376B at Loughborough.
Photo © P. Hetherington 11/12/04.
Currently used for storage at Loughborough GCR, this
container is in fairly good condition and the owner
intends to restore it eventually.
- BD48839B
Diagram 3/050, lot 2970
(550 containers), Wolverton 1957.
BD48839B at Kemsley, Kent.
Photo © J. Fuller.
This container was donated by the
Sittingbourne and Kemsley
Light Railway where it had been used as a storage
shed for many years. It was moved to the GCR on 11/06/05
and is currently awaiting restoration. As the pressed
steel end is badly corroded, this will not be a simple
job.
Click here for a more detailed
report on the rescue of this container.
- BD50343B
Diagram 3/050, lot 3131
(300 containers), St. Rollox 1957.
BD50343B at Loughborough.
Photo © P. Hetherington 11/12/04.
BD50343B at Loughborough.
Photo © P. Hetherington 26/12/06.
This container was used for storage at Loughborough GCR for
many years, along with now-scrapped container BC9937B. The
two were located end-to-end with the end doors removed, until
December 2006, when a decision was taken to dispose of the pair.
BC9937B was in very poor condition so was broken up, while
BD50343B was stripped of its rotten cladding and side doors, and
loaded with a pile of salvagable bits from both containers before
being moved for further storage.
Despite its current appearance, most of the important bits
are still present so full restoration is not out of the question
- and as the only St. Rollox container in the collection, it
would certainly be nice to keep it. The main problem has always
been the lack of end doors, but in early 2008 we dismantled a
fire-damaged container at the Avon Valley Railway, co-incidentally
the consecutively-numbered BD50342B, recovering a set of end doors
and various other parts which should assist in any possible future
restoration.
'BK' type container:
These were similar to tbe 'B' containers, but were designed
specifically for carrying furniture and were therefore provided
with internal laths to secure the load. 1,435 were built to
three very similar designs, but were of all-plywood construction
which has ensured that few have survived.
- BK????B
Diagram 3/127 (1956-58).
Unidentified BK conainer at Kemsley, Kent. The
white plywood sheet was covering a large hole in the
side which, after a 200 mile road journey, is now
even larger.
Photo © J. Fuller.
This container was donated by the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light
Railway where it had been used as a storage shed for many
years. Its original identity is currently unknown, although
some clues have been uncovered; see the number theory page.
As a diagram 3/127 container, its original number would be
between 8685 and 9434. Three lots were built at Earlestown,
Faverdale and Swindon. It seems most likely that this is one
of the 1958 Swindon-built examples.
This container is in fairly poor condition but the type is of
some historic importance as the predecessor to the ubiquitous
'Pickfords' lorry - many people would have moved house in one
of these before the coming of the motorways. As a furniture
container it also provides a direct link to the 'lift vans' of
the 1890s.
Unfortunately someone drove into it at its previous location,
and some more bits fell off on the way up to Leicestershire,
so one side now requires complete replacement. This container
will be the first to be rebuilt, as any delay will probably
cause it to deteriorate to the point of no return!
Click here for a more detailed report
on the rescue of this container.
'D' type container:
'D' type containers were open containers, 14 feet by 7 and with a
six-plank body, and were never particularly popular - 1,975 were
built, 465 at Eastleigh and the remainder at Earlestown, but they
are thought to have been withdrawn fairly early. They were numbered
from D21000B to D22974B.
- D?????B
Diagram 3/550 (1949-54).
D2????B.
Photo © P. Hetherington 09/01/10.
The remains of this container were found dumped on the cattle
dock at Ruddington. It is thought to have been damaged in a
derailment in BR days and simply left there to rot. The remains
were discovered when the preservationists arrived some years
later and have since been stored in the open; they have now
been stowed in a box van which should at least help to conserve
them. Some parts are missing but the remains could, one day,
form the basis of an ambitious rebuild, or replica if you prefer.
Needless to say, we do not know this container's number!
Wanted!
Although the GCR collection represents most of the more common
types, there are a few notable omissions. Some of them are listed
here, but in practice there were too many weird and wonderful
variations to list them all.
- 'AF' or 'AFU' type container.
A typical 'AF' container mounted on a Conflat wagon in BR
days.
Photo © Paul
Bartlett (used with permission)
These were half-sized insulated containers used for carrying
frozen food. There were several diagrams covering different
insulation materials and the presence (AFU) or absence (AF)
of eutectic plates, which could be charged up at the
producer's factory to help to maintain the temperature.
An unidentified 'AF' container was found in a field in
Northamptonshire and was considered a candidate for restoration.
However, having traced the owner and hired a lorry to collect
it, it turned out to be in much worse condition than first
thought and impossible to lift safely. The rescue bid had to be
called off and the container has been left to rest in peace; it
nearly ended up in pieces. An expensive and frustrating
mistake!
- 'AX' type container.
These were a highly insulated top-loading container
intended for the carriage of liquid carbon dioxide.
Just 240 were built. It seems unlikely that a top-loading
container would have found any further use once the
traffic ceased, so I don't really expect to find one.
- 'B' type 'light alloy' container.
50 of these were built by Park Royal in 1958 while BR were
experimenting with different materials. I know of at least
three survivors...
- 'BD' type fibreglass container.
Another experimental type, just six of these were built. They
are shorter than the standard 'BD' containers and look quite
distinctive. At least two of these still exist: one is
destined for another preservation group, while the other is
in industrial use as a store.
- 'BM' and 'FM' type containers.
The 'BM' was a variant of the 'BD' type, fitted with
internal meat hooks for the conveyance of carcasses.
The most notable external features were the ventilation
louvres in the sides. 1,305 were built, mostly of
tongue-and-groove boarding but 40 were clad in plywood.
The 'FM' was similar but insulated (and therefore
without the louvres), for conveyance of frozen meat.
3,885 were built to six diagrams, some boarded and
others of plywood. If one of these can be found it
will be painted white.
- 'C' and 'D' type containers.
These were open containers, and were
much rarer than the covered type, with just 790 'C' and
1,975 'D' types built, the last in 1954. They were
withdrawn relatively early, so the chances of finding
an intact survivor are slim.
The 'C' had internal dimensions of just six by seven
feet, the 'D' was more like a traditional open wagon
body. There was also a 'DX' version with removable sides
(150 built).
We do have the remains of a 'D' container (see above)
but turning the remains back into a container would be
a major project, so if a better survivor surfaced it
would certainly be considered.
- 'H' type containers.
Believed to stand for 'hod', over 4,000 of these small
containers were built for the movement of building
materials. These were just 6'9" long, 3'9"
wide and 1'10" tall, yet could carry over 2 tons
each.
- 'L' type containers.
Apart from the Conflat A, the only other Conflat wagon built
by British Railways in large numbers was the Conflat L.
We don't have one on the GCR, but there are preserved
examples elsewhere. But, to the best of my knowledge,
none of them are carrying their original 'L' type
containers.
'L' type containers were strange looking things intended
for the conveyance of limestone and were designed for top-loding
and bottom-discharge. Three were carried on a single wagon.
The chances of finding any are probably slim, as they
were unlikely to find further use when the traffic
ceased. However, a few did survive in traffic into the
1980s.
- 'LF' and 'LT' type containers.
These were designed for the transportation of bulk flour (LF)
or liquid malt (LT) and looked for all the world like the body
of a tank wagon with some framework around the lower portion.
The give-away signs are the lifting shackles, and the rubber
fenders on the corners, which are just like those on the wooden
containers. There were only 7 LFs and 6 LTs built. Survival
seems unlikely, but you never know...
- 'LG' type container.
These were effectively a top-loading, bottom-discharge
variation of the 'A' type. Depending on which section of the
book I believe(!) there were either 17 or 22 built, and they
were either for bulk flour or malt. I doubt we'll ever find
one.
References:
Much of the information on dimensions, diagrams, lots and numbering
has come from 'British Railways Wagons' by Don Rowland. Some
information was taken from a photocopied article, the origins of
which I do not know. Further details and references are on the
acknowledgements page.
Phil
Hetherington
Last Modified: 19.01.10