This is an example of a 20 ton drop side ballast and sleeper wagon to diagram 1/572 designed by British
Railways and codenamed "Grampus". 4,059 wagons of this type were built to diagram 1/572 by six different
builders. DB984082 was one of 200 ordered under lot No. 3038 from the Cambrian Wagon Works Ltd. in 1957.
They were built between October 1957 and June 1958 with handbrake only, i.e. no vacuum brake or through
pipe. DB 984082 was completed in 1957.
DB 984082 was originally allocated to the Western Region under the control of the Chief Operating
Officer. It was later equipped with vacuum braking and was latterly allocated to the Southern Region.
It was purchased from Three Bridges Wagon Repair Depot in 1994.
The Bluebell Railway's Grampus wagons have been and still are in regular use. Several years ago all
were fitted with steel floors and some of the side doors were replaced. The photo above illustrates the
type of damage which can be caused by careless unloading of wagons with mechanical excavators. At some
stage DB984082 will need replacement doors.
For more information about the "Grampus" wagons see this web page on DB 991391.
