Colmans Wagon to alongside Factory - progress - aka Hornby "Saxa" or China Clay

[cbeckett]

Thought I`d make a tarpaulin topped wagon-in Colmans` Livery as a bit of fun - I don`t know if they actually used them, but they would have to had keep the seed dry on the way to the Mill. Lots to do yet, but the chassis is Jarrah, covered with plastikard: axle boxes and wheels from BrandBright. Will post more as progress is made....

Cheers, cobbers

 

[Deleted member 1986]

Thought I'd make a tarpaulin topped wagon-in Colmans' Livery as a bit of fun - I don't know if they actually used them, but they would have to had keep the seed dry on the way to the Mill. Lots to do yet, but the chassis is Jarrah, covered with plastikard: axle boxes and wheels from BrandBright.

They look the part, and poetic licence is allowed, and the reasoning for their use is logical.

For the benefit of others as well as myself,

Jarrah, Eucalyptus marginata

Jarrah is a large sized hardwood found only in the south west of Western Australia. It is Western Australia’s principal tree in terms of both the extent of forest and in the versatility of its timber. The heartwood varies from rich reds to deep browns, with sapwood being a clearly distinguished pale yellow.

Opportunity for export?

 

[stockers]

best railway sleepers in UK are Jarrah

 

[spoz]

It's a superb wood; I've got a work bench with a top made out of Jarrah that sat at the bottom of a dam for about 100 years with absolutely no deterioration ; it's so hard that a chisel can't take a bite out of it, but when it's green it's (relatively) easy to work. It's probably Australia's favourite wood for serious longevity in our climate which is of course notorious for termites and the like. It's normally seen in a fairly rough state, being used in the past largely structurally or for things like sleepers and fence palings. But it will also take a fine finish and these days lots of local craftspeope use it for furniture, wood turning etc. And, when green, it smells divine! It's a bit slow growing so there are concerns about stock levels although it is being farmed in plantations these days, and not just in the West.

Oh, and nice wagon Chris! If it isn't prototypical, it should be!

 

[cbeckett]

Thanks for the comments - and - lecture coming on - sorry - Jarrah road blocks were used in the Edinburgh Tramways - sent back to the UK as cheap "ballast". So I'm told.

My research project is all about how the "remains" of the Jarrah trunks - ie twigs, branches+ - sustained a commercial venture for @30 years, providing firewood to Perth. (closed down in 1915, so no oral history, just a lot of conjecture, and hard searching through State Records - good fun though; intriguing)

Well, painted the "tarpaulins" this morning (elastic knee bandage stuff) on the wagon.

Have a good'un, cobbers