South African Wagons arrival, 20th August

Roger Bye has kindly compiled this report of the arrival of the two South African bogie wagons. As you will see the weather was not exactly conducive to photography!

1. On Thursday 20th August, a large container arrived at Killington Lane after a long journey from South Africa, first by sea and then by road. A number of volunteers were on hand to assist, and local contractors had been engaged to provide ongoing transport and the capability to lift the equipment out of the container.

2. Opening the rear doors revealed some very large crates containing quite a collection of railway equipment – some for the L&B and some for Exmoor Steam Railway Centre. It was "Christmas come early" for General Manager Martyn Budd and resident Engineer John Uphill.

3. The roof of the container was removed to give clear access for lifting.

4. & 5.The first item to land on Devon tracks was a cast bogie...



6. ... closely followed by three others.

7. The large and heavy wooden crates containing a variety of components were then unloaded...

8. ... and examined in order to identify which parts were for us and which were destined for elsewhere.

9. The two wagons, were then revealed. The sides of the open wagon had been removed and the now "flat wagon", having been packed first, was now at the bottom with the ballast hopper wagon standing on top of it.

10. The ballast hopper wagon was lifted out...

11, 12 & 13. ... then swung over to the siding and, after aligning the bogies, carefully lowered onto L&B rails.

14. The ballast hopper was then shunted out of the way...



15. ...so that the flat wagon could be similarly lifted ...

16. ...and lowered onto L&B rails.

17. After refitting the container roof and cleaning out the strapping, wire tethers. etc. used to secure the equipment in transit, the empty container left for the South-East.

All this work had taken most of the morning, in pretty bad weather too.

18.After unpacking and repacking the crates, and sorting out the various contents; in the afternoon these were loaded onto the contractor’s lorry (along with the old ballast wagon which has now been sold) for onward transport.

19. A close up of an axle-box showing its previous ownership and date.

20. And to finish a fine picture of the rather splendid vacuum fitted ballast hopper wagon.

As some work will be required on the two wagons before they are ready for service, perhaps it is just as well that they have had a good coating of red oxide paint. This should help prevent them instantly rusting away - given the shock of the change from the dry heat of South Africa to the rain, wind and cooler temperatures of Exmoor.

Words and photos by Roger Bye. Additional photos by Graham Bendell.