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SR 10 Ton 5-plank Open Goods Wagon 10013

SR 10 Ton 5-plank Open Goods Wagon 10013, Martin Skrzetuszewski

This is an example of a Southern Railway diagram 1380 5-plank Open Goods Wagon. 900 of these were built in 1930/31 at the Southern Railway's workshops at Ashford, Kent. They were fitted with the "Freighter" type of handbrake only, had a nine feet wheelbase and a tare weight of 6 Tons 0 cwt.

These wagons were classed as "rebuilds" because, despite the body and underframe being new, the wheelsets, axleboxes and springs were recovered from ex-LSWR vehicles. The frames were non-standard to accommodate the wider axle journal centres of the LSWR wheelsets. The smaller axle journal diameter of the old wheelsets also required the carrying capacity to be restricted to 10 tons. This practice was also applied to vans - see 44611

The "rebuilds" were the standard 5-plank open wagon of the Maunsell era. The SR later adapted some of these diag. 1380 wagons to take RCH-standard wheelsets, axleboxes and springs - see 9608

This wagon continued in service with BR until 1958/59, when it was withdrawn and was subsequently sold to the Port of Bristol Authority, being renumbered PBA 59239. It was one of a number purchased from Bristol in 1981 for the Bluebell Railway.

The PBA kept no record of the original numbers of their wagons. An appropriate number was therefore chosen. 10013 was one of a lot of 550 built in the Southern Railway's workshops at Ashford, Kent in 1931 under order A576. It was withdrawn by BR in August 1958. This wagon was first numbered 9752 after restoration.

Recommended reading:

An Illustrated History of Southern Wagons - Volume Four, by Messrs. Bixley, Blackburn, Chorley and King; published by The Oxford Publishing Company, 2002. ISBN 086093 5647.