C15 BR TURBOT (YCV) 31tonne BALLAST/SPOIL/SLEEPER WAGON

With one-piece floor and "one-piece" bogies.

One of the first "modern" type of P.W. open wagons built, although on 30 - year old underframes from Bolster Es (of 1962-4 vintage) with new bodies added during 1982-3. There were about 900 Turbots built. In use they became very battered due to being struck by excavator buckets. If used for sand, they needed lining with polythene sheeting, as the doors were not exactly leakproof. The Turbot was apparently bad luck for the works rebuilding them as construction began with DB9780000 in 1982 at Shildon , which closed in 1984 before all the wagons had been converted. The last wagon converted at Shildon was DB978246. The work then transferred to Swindon, which also closed in 1986 after producing DB078921; the rest were then done at BREL(RFS) Doncaster from 1988 starting with DB978922.

The unusual end flaps of Turbots were to help prevent spillage when used with
ballast cleaners working on an adjacent track (also found on Topes). The
wagons quickly took on a battered look & had very rusty bodywork.
They were also used for carrying new ballast, sleepers, track parts & sand (if
lined with polythene!)

REFERENCES:
RAIL magazine May'88;
MODEL RAILWAY CONSTRUCTOR August '85;
"British Railway Wagons No.7 Engineer's Stock" G. Gamble (Cheona), p.56.

LIVERY:
Bodywork was dark grey, although the shade varied. A signal yellow stripe 12"
deep was painted along the top of the body side. The chassis & headstocks were
black. Brake lever handle and lamp irons (on ends) white. Thinnest part of
buffer shanks: silver.
A very good colour photo appeared in MODEL RAILWAY
CONSTRUCTOR Feb'85.

TRANSERS: Sheet CT4 formerly produced by us, is now available from
Modelmasters, ref. no. 4867 & the CT2 Air-braked wagon sheet re. no.4866.

We stock wheels for this kit in OO, EM and P4/S4. Please note that as it is a bogie wagon you will require 2 sets.

LINK TO PDF INSTRUCTION SHEET