The Bluebell Railway's Wagons
Wagon Stock List
The Bluebell Railway has a considerable collection of wagons. These may be divided into two categories, those that are held for preservation reasons, and those that we have for our own engineering needs. Of course, many of our engineering wagons are historic vehicles in their own right; these include the SR hand crane and the Ransome & Rapier LNER steam crane.
Left: SECR Covered goods van No.15750
Passenger rated vans are included in the separate Carriage Stock List (which includes the passenger-rated milk tanker).
This list includes the running number (linked through to a detailed web page for the wagon if available), original railway company, “Name” or “Nick-name”, description, (building date), capacity and tare weights, length, and (alternative numbers carried).
Please note that an indication that a wagon is “operational” does not mean that, at any particular moment in time, it has had an inspection and is available to run. Rather it means that the wagon has been operational, and has not been withdrawn from potential operational use.Maintenance and overhaul of the wagons is now led by an enthusiastic team of volunteers, The Bluebell Railway Goods Division, who have a facebook page and a fundraising shop.
Donations towards the Wagon Fund may be directed via the Bluebell Railway Trust.In 2008 the BRPS agreed a Historic Wagons Strategy (pdf file). This sets out our long-term plans to create three disctinct goods trains representing three eras.
There is a glossary of the different initials of the railway companies, etc., at the end of this page.
Brake Vans
| 5706 | LSWR Road Van (1898) 1T cap, 15T tare 21’0″ (1541, SR 54663) |
| 11916 | SECR “Dance Hall” (1923) 25T tare (SR 55477) |
| 17908 | GWR “Toad” (1913) 20T tare (Oxfordshire Ironstone Co. No.6) |
| S55490 | SECR “Dance Hall” (1923) 25T tare, (SECR 11934, SR 55490) [Under restoration] Owned by members of Southern Locomotives Ltd |
| 55993 | SR “Pillbox” (1930) 25T tare [Operational] |
| 56290 | SR “Queen Mary” Bogie Vacuum Brake Van (1936) 25T tare [Operational] |
| DS 62864 | BR (SECR design) “Shark” Ballast Plough (1949) 20.5T tare |
| M360328 | Express Goods Brake Van (SR “Pillbox” design, with Vacuum Brake for MoS) (1942) 25T tare (Registered SR 1032, WD 11037, BR M360328 (1949), ARMY 49018) |
Covered Goods Vans
| 1577 | LBSCR van underframe, recovered from Preston Park, Sept 2008 – may be combined with metalwork from 1590, an LBSCR (1908) 8T van body (SR 46263) |
| 2773 | LSWR 10T cap, 6T-10 tare, 21’0″ (1410, WD: AD 47773) |
| 8112 | LSWR (1912) 10T cap, 6T-17 tare, 21’0″ (1406, SR 43241) |
| 8196 | LBSCR (1913) 8T cap, 6T-10 tare, 21’4″ LBSCR Diag.8, SR Diag.1433 (SR 46544, later MOD (Navy) 590) |
| 15750 | SECR (c1919) 12T cap, 6T-17 tare (SR 45767, 080697) [awaiting overhaul] |
| 44611 | SR (1931 on LSWR running gear) 10T cap, 6T-17 tare [Operational] |
| 47588 | SR (1931) 12T cap, 7T-17 tare (082048) [Operational] |
| 524178 | LMS (1945) 12T cap, 7T-12 tare, 20’11” (later MOD(Navy) 813) |
| 570027 | LMS Banana Van (1946) 10T cap, 9T-2 tare, 20’11” (insulated and heated) The Banana by Rail [Operational] |
| B772972 | BR Pallet Van (1956) (later PLA A52) |
Open Goods Wagons
| 91 | LSWR 3, 4 or 5-plank wagon underframe (original number unknown) |
| 3346 | LBSCR Open High-Bar (1917) 10T cap, 5T-14 tare, 18’5″ (1369, SR 22568, WD: AD 46269) [Operational] |
| 5542 | SECR (SR built) 7-plank Open Goods 12T cap, 6T-6-1 tare (PBA 59542, Original No. unknown) [Operational] |
| 9608 | SR 5-plank Open 10T cap, 6T tare (PBA 59425, Original No. unknown) |
| 10013 | SR 5 plank (built on LSWR running gear) 10T cap, 6T tare (PBA 59239 Original No. unknown, has also been numbered 9752) |
| 12058 | SR 5-plank Open Merchandise Wagon (1946) 13T cap [under overhaul] |
| 16194 | SECR 7-plank Open Goods 12T cap, 6T-6 tare (PBA 59252, Original No. unknown) [Operational] |
| 16358 | SECR 7-plank Open Goods 12T cap, 6T-6 tare (PBA 58162) [Dismantled for major repairs] |
| 30004 | SR 8-plank Open Goods/Mineral 12T cap, 6T-8 tare (PBA 58164, Original No. unknown) [Operational] |
| 37786 | SR 8-plank Open Goods (1939) 10-ft wheelbase, 6T-16 tare (PBA 60026, Original No. unknown) [Operational] |
| 50899 | SECR 5-plank Open High-Bar 10T cap, 5T-14 tare (PBA 60011, Original No. unknown) |
| PBA 59685 | Private Owner Mineral 13T cap, built by Cambrian Wagon Co. (possibly 1943) (Original No. unknown) |
| PBA 66071 | LMS 5 plank Open Merchandise Wagon (1934) 12T cap, 6T-16 tare 20’11” (Original No. unknown) |
| 87782 | GWR 5-plank Open High-Bar 10T cap (PBA 59627) [under overhaul] |
| 411245 | LMS 5-plank Open (1937/8) 12T cap, 6T-16 tare 20’11” (PBA 66015) [Operational] |
| 474558 | LMS 3-plank drop-side Medium Open Goods Wagon (1937) 12T cap, 6T-16 tare, 20’11” [Operational] |
| M480222 | LMS/BR 3-plank drop-side Medium Open Goods Wagon (1949) 12T cap, 6T-16 tare, 20’11” [Operational] |
| B458525 | BR steel drop-side “Medfit” Open Goods Wagon (Ashford 1951) [Operational] |
| B461224 | BR steel drop-side “Medfit” Open Goods Wagon (Ashford 1952) [Operational] |
| B741381 | BR “Pipefit” Dropside Open Wagon (1956) 12T cap. [Operational] |
Flat Wagons and Bolster Wagons
| 39617 | SR 14/15 Ton Motor Car Truck “ConFlat D” (1933) 14T cap, 8T-16 tare |
| 57883 | SR Bogie Bolster (1936) 40T cap, 21T-3 tare (DS 64622, 083345) [On loan to Swanage Railway] |
| 57949 | SR Bogie Bolster (1944) 40T cap, 21T-3 tare |
Containers
| BD49908B | Standard BD type Goods Container BD49908B (1957) |
Petroleum Products Tank Wagons
| 1603 | Shell-BP Class A Petroleum Products Tanker (1965) (Registered BR(M)187240, SUKO 67341) |
| 1921 | ESSO Class B Spirit Tank wagon (1942) [Operational] |
| 4497 | SHELL/BP Class A Spirit Tank wagon (1930) |
Ballast Wagons
| 567 | SECR 2-plank Drop Side Ballast Wagon 12T cap, (Original No. unknown) [Operational – rebuilt from 7-plank PBA 59305] |
| 62002 | SR Drop Side Engineers’ Wagon (1928) 20T cap, 8T-16 tare, 12′ wheelbase [Operational] |
| DB 983103 | BR “Dogfish” Hopper Wagon (Chas. Roberts, 1959) 24T cap. [Operational] |
| DB 984082 | BR “Grampus” Engineers’ Drop Side Wagon (Cambrian, 1957) [Operational] |
| DB 984506 | BR “Grampus” Engineers’ Drop Side Wagon (Butterley, 1955) [For disposal] |
| DB 986419 | BR “Grampus” Engineers’ Drop Side Wagon (Cambrian, 1956) [Operational – on loan to Lavender Line, Isfield] |
| DB 986591 | BR “Grampus” Engineers’ Drop Side Wagon (Butterley, 1956) [Operational] |
| DB 991391 | BR “Grampus” Engineers’ Drop Side Wagon (083658) (Pressed Steel, 1959) main Web page for “Grampus” [Operational] |
| DB 993217 | BR “Dogfish” Hopper Wagon (Chas. Roberts, 1957) 24T cap. [Operational] |
| DB 993348 | BR “Dogfish” Hopper Wagon (Met-Cammell, 1957) 24T cap. [Operational] |
Cranes, On Track Machines, and other Special Use Wagons
| 61107 | SR Well Wagon (1944 or 1945) [Operational] |
| 100677 | GWR Sleeper Wagon (low floor) (1938) [Operational] |
| B900036 | BR 20T “Flatrol SB” (1958 Lancing) [Ex trolley wagon for continental working, now small loco boiler trolley] |
| B900920 | BR(W) “Weltrol WP” Bogie Well Wagon (1960) (TDB96450) [Ex Motor-rail loading ramp, now Loco Boiler Carrier] |
| B904134 | BR ‘Lowmac MU’ Machinery Wagon (low floor) (1957) [Operational] |
| RS 1083 | MOWT (LNER) Ransome & Rapier 45 Ton Steam Crane (1943) in four units (951516, 102) [Under overhaul] |
| 1748S | MOWT (SR) Joseph Booth & Sons 12 Ton Hand Crane (1943) (DS 1748) [Operational] |
| 1748SM | MOWT (SR) Match Wagon for Hand Crane (1943) (DS 3182) 6.5 Tons [Operational] |
| 1748SM | MOWT (SR) Match Wagon for Hand Crane (1943) (DS 3182) 6.5 Tons [Operational] |
| ADS 70225 | Snowplough – formerly SR tender No. 715 from Schools-class No. 915 ‘Brighton’ (1933/1964) |
| 73315 | Plasser & Theurer 07-275 4w Switch & Crossing Tamper Machine (1983) [Operational] |
While most of the engineering wagons are serviceable, only a few other wagons and vans have been restored, since the main priority of the C&W department has to be the restoration of passenger coaches. However, volunteers with an interest in wagon restoration are particularly welcome, as we are building up this side of the department.
The assistance of David Wigley, Martin Skrzetuszewski and Bob John in the compilation of this list is gratefully acknowledged.
Glossary of Railway Companies, etc.:
| BR | British Railways, British Rail (post 1948) |
| GWR | Great Western Railway (pre 1948) |
| LBSCR | London Brighton & South Coast Railway (pre 1923) |
| LCDR | London Chatham & Dover Railway (pre 1899) |
| LMS | London Midland & Scottish Railway (1923-47) |
| LNER | London & North Eastern Railway (1923-47) |
| LSWR | London & South Western Railway (pre 1923) |
| LT | London Transport |
| MOD | Ministry of Defence |
| MoS | Ministry of Supply |
| MOWT | Ministry of Works and Transport (ordered stock for the railways during wartime) |
| PBA | Port of Bristol Authority |
| PLA | Port of London Authority |
| RCH | Railway Clearing House |
| RSSB | Rail Safety and Standards Board |
| SECR | South Eastern & Chatham Railway (Joint Committee of the LCDR and SER from 1899 to 1922) |
| SER | South Eastern Railway (pre 1899) |
| SR | Southern Railway (1923-47) |
| WD | War Department |
Wagons which are no longer at the Bluebell Railway:
| Chauldron Wagon No.895 or 20. Ex-Seaham Colliery – Photo from 1975 | |
| Chauldron Wagon, number unknown. Ex-Seaham Colliery – Photo from 1975 | |
| 67 | (RCH 43101, BR P.91344) William Cory PO wagon |
| 68 | (RCH 27468, BR P.383095) William Cory PO wagon |
| 92 | GWR Tool Van – Photo from 1990s |
| 234 | Met. Rly. Drop-side Ballast Wagon – Photo, 4 May 1997 by Gerry Bixley |
| RNAD 400 | WD Goods Van (Registered GWR 85163) |
| RNAD 402 | WD Goods Van (LNER design, Registered GWR 85126) |
| HW 402 | LT Ballast Hopper |
| HW 433 | LT Ballast Hopper |
| DS 27730 | BR 10T cap Ballast Wagon (IoW, rebuilt from LBSCR or SR Open Wagon) – Photo, April 1994 by Gerry Bixley |
| AD 49027 | BR Standard Brake Van – Photo from 1975 |
| 51202 | SR Ventilated Meat Van body |
| SUKO 67439 | SHELL-MEX & BP Ltd. Class A Petroleum Products Tanker (Registered BR(Sc)2473A) |
| B 761349 | BR Pallet Van |
| B 763305 | BR Goods Van |
| B 772970 | BR Pallet Van |
| DB 985854 | BR “Grampus” Engineers’ Drop Side Wagon – Heritage Wagon Database entry |
| DB 988395 | BR “Grampus” Engineers’ Drop Side Wagon – Heritage Wagon Database entry |
| DB 992780 | BR “Dogfish” Hopper Wagon – Heritage Wagon Database entry |
| DB 993210 | BR “Dogfish” Hopper Wagon – Heritage Wagon Database entry |
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of former Bluebell Railway wagons.
Viktor Schiffer’s Links for Wagon Enthusiasts page may be of interest.
The NYMR York Area Group are very active in the collection and maintenance of engineers’ wagons.
Copyright © 8 October 1995 Richard Salmon.
Last updated 24 February 2021.
