WW Well Wagon

WW 9558 with a narrow gauge tanker load. SRA Archives

Designed by CME E.E Lucy, these wagons were primarily used to transport locomotive boilers between workshops. The wagons could carry 40t if carried directly over bogies, 20t if distributed in well and only 8t loaded in centre of well. They were also used for Out-of-gauge and heavy loads. One was allocated to the Enfield breakdown train during the 1960’s as a materials wagon (to carry timber pigsty beams etc).

Builders: 5 wagons were built by Richie Brothers and in the Railways own workshops between 1909 and 1912. Running numbers were 6415, 6573, 7030, 7129 and 9558.

Length: 56’ 6” (17.22m) over headstocks Tare: 22t Gross: 40t Equiv Length: 2.9

Bogies: Archbar

Coding: Originally coded WW. Recoded NWWA after 1979.

Colour Scheme: Probably only ever painted in the standard Gunmetal Grey livery.

Period of Service: 1909 – mid 1980’s. 9558 was the last of the class and the oldest wagon in service in 1982.

Modelling: Would have to be scratchbuilt.

Further reading: More info in ‘Day of the Goods Train’ by Ron Preston.