Wagon Bits
Transfers I can now supply water slide transfers aimed particularly at the wagon builder. Whilst it should be possible to produce virtually any design, the aim is initially to produce designs for lettering wagons, particularly private owner ones. Whilst Letraset type transfers are widely available, the style of lettering does not match that traditionally used by wagon painters. However, by manufacturing our own transfers, we can not only produce accurate letters, they can be arranged as required to give the appropriate wording, with symbols etc added where necessary to suit individual wagons. The price of course will vary depending on the amount of work required, but expect it to be around £15 per A4 sheet. Please note detail and quality is an over-riding factor when producing transfers and the above picture does not represent the quality of the finished product.
Axleboxes Cast in white metal, they incorporate lots of fine detail, lettering, dummy bolts etc. Hornslots are cast in to fit axleguards with a scale 9 1/8” between horns and a pocket for a scale sized bearing spring is cast into the top. A number of these boxes can be altered to suit other railways. The lettering cast on can be cut and scraped off with a sharp knife, and appropriate new lettering fitted using Slater`s letters or similar. The axleboxes can be supplied either as plain castings, or bored and fitted with an 8mm bore flanged bearing. The bearings used are made from a thermoplastic base material in which is a matrix of long fibers and a solid lubricant; to you and me they are plastic. They are designed for dry operation, though the use of oil, grease or even water will reduce the friction. The bearings are available separately. The axleboxes are not suitable for passenger carrying. £18 for 4 castings, £32 if bored and bushed.
Currently available:



Early grease box, spring to be fastened to top of box with studs.


Gloucester R.C.W.Co. No 4S grease box.

M.R. 10A Ellis pattern grease box, also used by many railways & private builders.

L.M.S. W44 open fronted oil box, suits 6 wheeled milk tankers.

G.W.R. 8 x 3 3/4 OK type F box, early style with 2 oiling lids.

N.E.R. No 3, 10 x 5 oil box, used on 20 ton hopper, suits single or double axleguards.

N.E.R. No 2, 9 1/2 x 4 1/4 oil box.
R.C.H. 9 x 4 1/4 oil box, 1923 standard used by railway companies and private builders.
G.W.R. 8 x 4 1/2 square topped for plate frame bogie. No slots.
Axle bearings.

As used in the axleboxes, they are 10mm O.D, 10mm long with an 8mm bore, so they are an easy fit on a 5/16” axle, available either with or without a 15mm diameter flange.

75p each

  
Axleguards.

Laser cut in 2mm mild steel. All are a scale 9 1/8” between wearing faces, and have 7 mounting holes and 2 holes for the tie bar pierced. Some have extra holes pierced, e.g. the 1923 R.C.H. axleguard has extra holes to suit mounting in steel or wooden underframes, and a hole for the brake lever guard stay plate. Styles available are:

Midland Railway, 3” wide legs.

R.C.H and the big four, flat for early wooden underframes.

As above, but joggled for steel and later wooden underframes.

£15 a set of 4

  
Crown and Wing Plates.

Laser cut in 0.8mm steel with holes pierced. Supplied as a set of 4 crown plates and 8 wing plates to fit Midland axleguards.
£7.00 12 parts

  
Bearing Spring Shoes.

White metal castings to suit wooden underframes. Based on an R.C.H. pattern, and used by many railways.

£2.50 per 8
Bearing (axle) springs.

Made from a mixture of bronze and Tufnol to give a working spring of scale thickness. 11 leaf style usually supplied, others available to order.

£30 per 4

  
Buffing springs.

The large spring between the frames upon which the buffers bear. All bronze to take the load, assembled in spring buckle to take drawhook and drawbar.

£30 per pair

  
Machined wagon wheels.

The wheels supplied in the chassis kit above are available separately. They consist of a finish turned iron tyre into which is secured a cast white metal wheel. This assembly is then held by the tyre and the wheel centre is faced, bored and reamed 5/16” to ensure a true running item. The tyre is 12mm wide, with 3/32” wide flange. These wheels are not suitable for passenger carrying.

The solid spoke design is based on typical practice around the latter half of the 19th, and first third of the 20th centuries when wagon wheels were almost exclusively fabricated, so producing slim spokes without large fillets in the corners like cast loco wheels.

Also available are split spoked wheels with 8 spokes, also at 3’ 1½” diameter.

£45.00 set of 4

3 Hole disc wheels machined from cast iron. Thin web machined with prototypical curves on both sides.

£50.00 set of 4
Brake Crank.

A mild steel fabrication for single sided brake gear with a 4mm square boss, 5 B.A. nut to take the brake lever, and 1/16” holes to suit the push rods.

£9.00 per pair

  
Brake push rods.

£3.50 set of 4

  
Brake Lever.

Laser cut from 1.6mm mild steel with a 4mm square hole in the large end. Overall length 220mm.

£3.00 per pair

  
Brake gear for 10’ underframes.

A laser cut plate with brake parts profiled and all the holes pierced. Enough bits for one Moreton braked vehicle and one fully fitted vehicle with vacuum operated clasp brakes. Includes push rods, brake hangers, cross shaft levers, combining levers and their suspension links and brackets and adjusters.

£27.00

  
Brake shoes.

Two styles cast in while metal. Universal and Handed (lettered GLOUCESTER).

£3.00 set of 4
Horse hooks.

Lost wax brass castings.

£4.00 a pair

  
Buffer Head/Shanks.

Steel heads C.N.C. profiled after silver soldering to steel shanks. Sizes available:

£15.00 set of 4

 

Scale Head Diameter
12"
13"
Shank Diameter
7/32"
1/4"
L.O.A.
60mm
100mm
 
Buffer Stocks.

Cast in white metal, with the bore cored and the mounting bolt holes spotted for drilling by the customer. They have a 3/8” diameter spigot on the back for mounting into the headstock if required.

N.E.R. to fit P7 20 ton hopper. With ribbed step and N.E.R on top. Take 7/32 shanks.

£12.00 Set of 4

Plain tapered body with collar. A very common style in the 19th century and 1907 R.C.H. style. Take 7/32 buffer shanks.

£12.00 Set of 4
Drawhooks.

Lost wax stainless steel castings, in two different styles.

Mid pattern, rounded hook, gedge slot, shank with a flat boss for connecting to continuous drawgear or laminated buffing spring. Later pattern with round shank.
£10.00 per pair

The later pattern is also available threaded and supplied with springs, nuts and 3 link couplings

£23.00 per pair
Coupling links.

3 steel links joints silver soldered. One end link has flat for gedge slot.

£4.00 pair

  
Drawbar Cradle.

Stainless steel lost wax casting with drawbar holes cored.

£6.00 each
Small Hooks.

Stainless casting suitable for coupling safety chains.

£10.00 Set of 4

  
Fine Chain.

23 links per inch, suitable for door catches and brake lever pins.

£1.50 per foot