RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted December 8, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 8, 2015 . In looking through a Freight Working Timetable for the Central Division of BR's Southern Region there appeared a working of three "minifits" from Witham (ER) through to Waddon Marsh on particular train. I've never heard of "minifits", but with a google search it came up with a couple of examples which seemed to associate them with standard BR 16 ton mineral wagons, but with no details as to what made them "special" - any ideas ? Thanks. . I wonder what they were loaded with? I use to live in Witham and cannot recall any coal mining. There is quite a bit of gravel and sand extraction form the mid Essex area, could it have been one of these. Again I cannot recall any special loading facilities at Witham. Sand is still sent by rail from Marks Tey. I am not aware of gravel going by train from Witham. Another load might have been scrap metal from the Rom River plant in Witham. One of our club members worked for them when the works were still rail connected. I will ask him next time I see him at the club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) I wonder what they were loaded with? I use to live in Witham and cannot recall any coal mining. There is quite a bit of gravel and sand extraction form the mid Essex area, could it have been one of these. Again I cannot recall any special loading facilities at Witham. Sand is still sent by rail from Marks Tey. I am not aware of gravel going by train from Witham. Another load might have been scrap metal from the Rom River plant in Witham. One of our club members worked for them when the works were still rail connected. I will ask him next time I see him at the club. Indeed, and I remember stories of Rom River bribing BR drivers to do the shunting when the tiny Planet locomotive they had broke down (again). Is there not another Witham in the Peterborough area? I know there is another on the Western. Edited December 9, 2015 by Titan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted December 9, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 9, 2015 Indeed, and I remember stories of Rom River bribing BR drivers to do the shunting when the tiny Planet locomotive they had broke down (again). Is there not another Witham in the Peterborough area? I know there is another on the Western. Hi Ian Witham in Somerset was known as Witham (Somerset) to avoid confusion and the Lincolnshire one was South Witham. North Witham didn't have a railway station. I think the one mentioned in the WTT was the one that you and I use to live in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 I wonder what they were loaded with? I use to live in Witham and cannot recall any coal mining. There is quite a bit of gravel and sand extraction form the mid Essex area, could it have been one of these. Again I cannot recall any special loading facilities at Witham. Sand is still sent by rail from Marks Tey. I am not aware of gravel going by train from Witham. Another load might have been scrap metal from the Rom River plant in Witham. One of our club members worked for them when the works were still rail connected. I will ask him next time I see him at the club. Could it have been something coming from Waddon Marsh? Wasn't there a gas works there, which might have produced coke, perhaps for some sort of industrial process? I did once encounter a 16-tonner branded 'Sand'; it was in a train of scrap-carrying wagons at a foundry I worked at in South Wales. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axlebox Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 From the same series: https://flic.kr/p/Bu58q6 ...up north we have an onomatopoeic word for this kind of mishap...dunch Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porcy Mane Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 (edited) From the same series: https://flic.kr/p/Bu58q6 Oo. That's nice. Think this is fresh: 56xx Class no.5606. Queens Head, Handsworth. 16 July 1964 by ricsrailpics, on Flickr Edited December 10, 2015 by Porcy Mane 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porcy Mane Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 onomatopoeic ...dunch Careful! We'll get told off again Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axlebox Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 Careful! We'll get told off again ...no that really is the noise a 16 tonner makes if you hit it hard enough with something more solid... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axlebox Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/23482341361/ ...I did a 'double take' with this 16 tonner...at first sight this photograph appears to be from the 1920s or 1930s 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted December 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 10, 2015 We could start a 'Spot the 16 Tonner' thread with shots like that 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porcy Mane Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 (edited) We could start a 'Spot the 16 Tonner' thread OK then. Here's your starter for 10. https://flic.kr/p/ASk912 Seriously; it's easier to spot that example than some 16 tonners in pics posted earlier in the thread. P Edited December 10, 2015 by Porcy Mane Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 OK then. Here's your starter for 10. https://flic.kr/p/ASk912 Seriously; it's easier to spot that example than some 16 tonners in pics posted earlier in the thread. P Just next to the retaining wall/ bridge abutement on the left hand side? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 10, 2015 On a mobile phone I ain't got a scooby, you can enlighten me at the weekend porky. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porcy Mane Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 (edited) On a mobile phone I ain't got a scooby, you can enlighten me at the weekend porky. That's this new 21st century technology for you. Can your phone spot this one? https://flic.kr/p/AR56sU There's not one in this image but it's worth looking at just because it was probably one of Britains smallest industrial sidings with the tiniest of coal drops. One of a series of five. EDIT Oops. Spose I better add the link. https://flic.kr/p/zHiPDh P Edited December 10, 2015 by Porcy Mane 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 There's not one in this image but it's worth looking at just because it was probably one of Britains smallest industrial sidings with the tiniest of coal drops. One of a series of five. EDIT Oops. Spose I better add the link. https://flic.kr/p/zHiPDh P Given the tinyness of the industral siding and the density of track squeezed into a small space I suspect CJ Freezer of moonlighting in the Newcastle and Carlisle design office . Seriously though, a good prototype for those wanting more operation in a limited space without too much compromise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axlebox Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/22736452852/in/photostream/ ...again no 16 tonners...however Poursea, that miniature siding just gets better and better with a turnplate and an extra siding at right angles... ...back on topic next time, promise... A/box Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Titan Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 OK then. Here's your starter for 10. https://flic.kr/p/ASk912 Seriously; it's easier to spot that example than some 16 tonners in pics posted earlier in the thread. P I can see at least two.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Metr0Land Posted December 11, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 11, 2015 Some easier to see ones here! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishswissernie Posted December 11, 2015 Share Posted December 11, 2015 https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/23302765909/in/dateposted-public/ I've just uploaded this one from the Fleetwood Shawe/ARPT collection today of Kyle of Lochalsh. 2 interesting examples, a tarpaulined one on the left and one with a load of coal, door open, contents being dumped on the concrete - no sign of a coal merchant but then I can't think of anywhere else at Kyle you could unload it. Ernie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted December 11, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 11, 2015 https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/23302765909/in/dateposted-public/ I've just uploaded this one from the Fleetwood Shawe/ARPT collection today of Kyle of Lochalsh. 2 interesting examples, a tarpaulined one on the left and one with a load of coal, door open, contents being dumped on the concrete - no sign of a coal merchant but then I can't think of anywhere else at Kyle you could unload it. Ernie When I did a bit of work for the merchant where my great aunt was the manageress in the early 1960s at busy times we had the lorry pulled right up against wth wagon then the door dropped down onto the flatbed. We had the scales on the back of the lorry and shovelled the coal straight out into the bags, saved double handling. If it was for store we shovelled the coal onto the lorry, took it through the weighbridge, then shovelled it off onto the stacks. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold SHMD Posted December 11, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 11, 2015 https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/23302765909/in/dateposted-public/ I've just uploaded this one from the Fleetwood Shawe/ARPT collection today of Kyle of Lochalsh. 2 interesting examples, a tarpaulined one on the left and one with a load of coal, door open, contents being dumped on the concrete - no sign of a coal merchant but then I can't think of anywhere else at Kyle you could unload it. Ernie Looks like there is a Slope Sided 16tonner in there too. Kev. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Metr0Land Posted December 13, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 13, 2015 7745 by Peter, on Flickr D6754 by Peter, on Flickr Lostock Hall Shed by Peter, on Flickr 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 Couple of late surviving wooden-bodied minerals in the picture of the EE Type 3 as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRealistic Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 Taken by me in my yoof. Early 60s, just south of B'ham city centre. 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRealistic Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 And another about the same time... at Tamworth. I must have cycled there! 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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