Some of you will be aware that I have spent the last week building a bogie parcels van for the WGLR http://www.gscalecentral.net/New-bogie-rolling-stock-for-the-WGLR-m283932
Here is the story behind the reason for the build;
In the (very) early morning a standard gauge parcels van is detached from the Morning Mail to Aberystwth and travels up the Kerry branch to the interchange at Gooey. Here it's load of post, parcels and newspapers bound for the Wetton Valley is transferred on to the narrow gauge version of the Morning Mail. In the early years of the WGLR, this train was composed of at least 2, sometimes 3 or 4, four wheeled goods vans for the purpose of carrying this mail. This proved to be most inconvenient as the vans were not available for goods trains until the early train had returned from Wetton and they had to be unloaded and cleaned every night, ready for the next morning's mail. So when a bogie coach chassis became available, the CMO decided that it would be converted into a large bogie post van which would release the goods vans from mail train duties, allowing them to do what they were designed for - carrying goods. The resultant bogie van was a pretty big un by WGLR standards and soon earned the nickname Brutus.
The standard gauge van has arrived at the interchange and the porters are busy loading newspapers ready to trolley them to the narrow gauge station ............
............ where the Morning Mail is waiting. Loco No.4 is in charge, a brake/baggage/3rd coach provides limited passenger accommodation (there aren't usually many at this time in the morning, although a second 4 wheel coach is sometimes included for market days etc.). Next up is Brutus loaded with the post, parcels and newspapers and bringing up the rear is the Shrewsbury & Welshpool Dairies milk van (a converted horsebox).
The train is seen crossing Foggy Bottom viaduct on it's way to Cockshutt and Wetton.
Arriving at Wetton, the sun is already rising into the sky.
The return up train is seen exiting The Narrows. Any passenger taking this service is in for a long ride as it stops frequently to drop off empty milk churns and pick up full ones at various points along the line (not just at the stations).
Obviously, Brutus only tends to be seen in one train each day, although during the war, it is rumoured to have been seen quite frequently being shunted into RAF Ffynon Garew. Keep that to yourself though ........... loose lips sink ships.
Here is the story behind the reason for the build;
In the (very) early morning a standard gauge parcels van is detached from the Morning Mail to Aberystwth and travels up the Kerry branch to the interchange at Gooey. Here it's load of post, parcels and newspapers bound for the Wetton Valley is transferred on to the narrow gauge version of the Morning Mail. In the early years of the WGLR, this train was composed of at least 2, sometimes 3 or 4, four wheeled goods vans for the purpose of carrying this mail. This proved to be most inconvenient as the vans were not available for goods trains until the early train had returned from Wetton and they had to be unloaded and cleaned every night, ready for the next morning's mail. So when a bogie coach chassis became available, the CMO decided that it would be converted into a large bogie post van which would release the goods vans from mail train duties, allowing them to do what they were designed for - carrying goods. The resultant bogie van was a pretty big un by WGLR standards and soon earned the nickname Brutus.
The standard gauge van has arrived at the interchange and the porters are busy loading newspapers ready to trolley them to the narrow gauge station ............
............ where the Morning Mail is waiting. Loco No.4 is in charge, a brake/baggage/3rd coach provides limited passenger accommodation (there aren't usually many at this time in the morning, although a second 4 wheel coach is sometimes included for market days etc.). Next up is Brutus loaded with the post, parcels and newspapers and bringing up the rear is the Shrewsbury & Welshpool Dairies milk van (a converted horsebox).
The train is seen crossing Foggy Bottom viaduct on it's way to Cockshutt and Wetton.
Arriving at Wetton, the sun is already rising into the sky.
The return up train is seen exiting The Narrows. Any passenger taking this service is in for a long ride as it stops frequently to drop off empty milk churns and pick up full ones at various points along the line (not just at the stations).
Obviously, Brutus only tends to be seen in one train each day, although during the war, it is rumoured to have been seen quite frequently being shunted into RAF Ffynon Garew. Keep that to yourself though ........... loose lips sink ships.
